~-BLOCKERS PROVE THEIR WORTH IN THE BLOOD PRESSURE BATTLE

Timolol with bendrofluazide is effective taken once or twice daily In 44 patients with hypertension timolol combined with beridrofluazide was equally effective given once or twice daily. The 2 drugs were given in a lixed combination oftimolol 10mg and bendrofluazide 2.Smg to a maximum of SOmg/ 12.Smg daily for 16 weeks in a general practice study. At almost every period of the study higher doses were used with twice daily medication, amounting to more than 40 % over once daily levels. Both dose regimens produced highly satisfactory reductions in BP, with significant changes in the first 2-4 weeks of treatment. Normotension was achieved in 71 % of cases on once daily dosage for systolic BP, 84 % for diastolic BP (89 % for bid). Side effects were present in 10 cases in the control group (20 %), 13 cases in the once daily group (39 % ) and 14 cases in the bid group (40 % ). Three patients on once dail¥ dosage, 5 on bid, and none on control treatment had to omit treatment because of side effects.

I Wheatley , D.: European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 14: 319 (No 5. 1978)

Oxprenolol and cyclopenthiazide are slightly better in fixed than in free combination A fixed combination (Trasidrex ') of slow release oxprenolol (Trasicor') 160mg and cyclopenthiazide ('Navidrex ') 0.25 mg was marginally more effective than these drugs in free combination for control of hypertension in 62 patients. A 12-week open multicentre general practice study showed that patients with essential hypertension previously treated with the drugs in free combination had slightly better control of BP, with no increase in side effects, when transferred to I or 2 tablets of Trasidrex' . Ebbutt. A.F. et al. : Journal of International Medical Research 6: 494 (No 6. 197 8)

Labetalol vs methyldopa for mild to moderate hypertension Labetalol and methyldopa reduced lying and standing arterial BP to a similar extent in 20 patients with moderately severe hypertension. A double-blind crossover study used both drugs in a starting dosage of I OOmg tid, increased every 2 weeks by 100-200mg to a maximum of I OOOmg tid. It showed mean falls in arterial pressures (systolic/ diastolic) of 30/ I 5 and 23/ 14mm Hg for methyldopa and labetalol , respectively, for supine BP, and 30/15 and 29/ 16mm Hg, respectively, for standing BP. The average time to reach optimal BP control was 5.7 weeks for labetalol and 6.2 weeks for methyldopa. Hypertension was not resistant to labetalol in any patient, but was resistant to methyldopa in 1. A significant postural effect on systolic BP was noted with labetalol.

I Sanders. G .L. et a1.: European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 14: 301 (No 5, 1978)

0156-2703/79 / 0210-0009 $00.50 / 0 © ADIS Press INPHARMA 10 Feb 1979 9