Abstract
One thousand two hundred and ninety-five hypertensive patients with an average blood pressure of 180/110 mm Hg currently treated with a mean daily dose of methyldopa 1025 mg were studied. In two-thirds of these patients a diuretic was also prescribed. While the dose of diuretic remained constant, the daily dose of methyldopa was reduced in a stepwise fashion over a period of six weeks, and totally withdrawn by eight weeks. Simultaneously, sustained-release (SR) oxprenolol 160 mg was introduced up to a maximum dose of 320 mg (two tablets daily).
One hundred and seventeen patients (13.7% of the total) withdrew from the study, of whom sixty-eight (5.3%) were for drug-related reasons.
In the 1,118 patients completing the study the average blood pressure fell steadily during the trial to a final level of 159/95 mm Hg. SR oxprenolol was very well tolerated by the majority and the incidence of the troublesome symptoms of tiredness, depression, headache and sexual problems reported initially with methyldopa, was significantly reduced. Three-quarters of the patients reported that they felt better with this new treatment.
This study demonstrates the feasibility of substituting once daily SR oxprenolol in hypertensive patients whose blood pressure is inadequately controlled by methyldopa therapy, and the subsequent improvement in blood pressure is inadequately controlled by methyldopa therapy, and the subsequent improvement in blood pressure control and patient well-being.
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