| Popis: |
78 patients aged 65 to 80 years, who had a seated diastolic (Phase V) blood pressure of 100mm Hg or above on each of 3 occasions, received metoprolol 50mg twice daily for 4 weeks. 29 patients' blood pressures were 'controlled' (seated diastolic blood pressure 95mm Hg or below) on metoprolol monotherapy. The remaining 49 patients were assessed as being in need of second-line antihypertensive therapy, and were randomly allocated to receive felodipine2 2.5mg twice daily or matched placebo (doubleblind) in addition to metoprolol 50mg twice daily in a parallel-group design. The randomisation was in the proportion of 2 patients receiving felodipine to 1 receiving placebo. To aim at a controlled diastolic blood pressure (95mm Hg or below) 12 hours after dose, the dosage offelodipine (or placebo) was increased to 5mg twice daily after 2 weeks, and to IOmg twice daily after 4 weeks, if required. The double-blind treatment period was 6 weeks. On an intention-to-treat basis, felodipine reduced the seated diastolic blood pressure from 103 |
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