Adverse effects of antihypertensive medications in the Hypertension Detection and Follow-up Program

T HE BENEFICIAL effects of drug treatment have been demonstrated in individuals with hypertension.‘-* The adverse effects of antihypertensive medications also have been well documented.9-‘4 While in most individuals high BP can be treated safely, side effects of drugs are relatively frequent and may have notable effects on quality of life and compliance with the prescribed regimens. Although the Hypertension Detection and Follow-up Program (HDFP) was not designed to study the side effects of drugs in comparison with placebo, its Stepped Care (SC) category does constitute the largest cohort (N = 5,485) from which detailed antihypertensive drug surveillance data are available in the United States. The data presented herein represent a description of the experience of the HDFP with antihypertensive drug side effects.