Effects of BAYl 5240, a fixed combination of low dose nifedipine and acebutolol on hypertension: Comparison with standard dose nifedipine

116 patients from 4 clinics participated in a double blind study to assess the efficacy of (BAYl 5240), a nifedipine-acebutolol fixed combination (10 mg+100 mg), as compared to nifedipine 20 mg in essential hypertension. During the 10 week study, the mean recumbent blood pressure decreased 1 to 3 h after treatment from 175.5/105.2 to 148.3/88.0 mmHg in the BAY1 5240 group and from 174.3/102.9 to 150.3/86.5 mmHg in the nifedipine group. The results also showed a comparable decrease in the mean systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressures before treatment (24 h after last tablet) and after physical exertion before and after either drug given for 4 weeks. Doubling of the dose for 4 additional weeks produced a moderate and similar additional decrease in blood pressure. The results show the possibility of treating essential hypertension with a low dose of a beta-adrenergic blocking agent in combination with 10 mg nifedipine. Both regimens were well tolerated. One patient in the BAYl 5240 group and 2 in the nifedipine group, all treated by the same investigator, were withdrawn from the study because of headache during the nifedipine pre-period.