Multicentre Isradipine Dose-Confirmation Study in Thai Patients With Hypertension

Summary

Isradipine is a new calcium antagonist of the dihydropyridine type, with marked vasodilator activity and minimum negative inotropic effects. It is a potent antihypertensive drug when given as monotherapy.

This was a single-blind multicentre study consisting of 2 weeks’ placebo pretreatment and 8 weeks’ treatment with isradipine. After the placebo period, 90 patients aged 36 to 65 (mean 52) years with mild to moderate hypertension and diastolic blood pressures (DBPs) of > 95 to 114mm Hg, were started on isradipine 1.25mg twice daily for 4 weeks. The dosage for the next 4 weeks was increased to 2.5mg twice daily if the DBP was > 90mm Hg. At the end of the study 72 of 90 patients (80%) had achieved a reduction in DBP ⩾ 10mm Hg and, of these, 48 (53%) had DBPs of ⩽ 90mm Hg. This study confirms that isradipine 2.5mg twice daily is effective and well tolerated in the treatment of Thai patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension.