A Comparative Study of Isradipine and Nifedipine in the Monotherapy of Mild to Moderate Hypertension in the Ghanaian.

Abstract

Clinical experience with the new dihydropyridine calcium antagonist. isradipine. is reported. Isradipine was compared with nifedipine in a multicentre open. parallel group. clinical therapeutic trial involving 70 patients with mild to moderate hypertension. A four week placebo washout period was followed by a 12 week active treatment period during which patients were randomized to receive cither 2.5 mg isradipine twice daily (n = 40) or 10 mg nifedipine three times daily ( n=30). Isradipine significantly reduced sitting systolic /diastolic blood pressures from 176.7 ± 21.0/l06.7±7.0mmHg to l42.9± 15/93.1±7.7mmHg (p< 0.001) at the end of 12 weeks. Similarly. nifedipine reduced sitting systolic/diastolic blood pressures from 170.2±1 9.5/1 06.2±7.4mmHg to 139. 1±9.7/92. 1±7.8 mmHg (p< 0.001). Normalisation (diastolic<90 mmHg) rates were 67% and 60% for isradipine and nifedipine respectively while good response (diastolic fall > 10mmHg) rate was over 85% on cither drug. Heart rate did not significantly change with either treatment. Three (3) patients taking isradipine experienced headache and 7 patients taking nifedipine had drug related adverse effects (5 had headache. I insomnia and I first dose hypotension). Therapy was Withdrawn in 4 patients taking nifedipine and 1 taking isradipine. It is concluded that isradipine is comparable to nifedipine and is an effective and well-tolerated antihypertensive agent In the Ghanaian.