EVALUATION OF EFFECTS OF LONG-TERM USE OF ANTIHYPERTENSIVE DRUGS BY 24-HOUR BLOOD-PRESSURE MONITORING

Antihypertensive effects of course treatments by standard doses of pro pranolol and nifedipine were evaluated in a randomized study in two pa rallel groups of patients with mild to moderate arterial hypertension by repetitive 24-hour blood pressure monitoring. Nifedipine exerted ma ximal antihypertensive effect on the first day of treatment but with t ime its efficacy statistically significantly declined. This indicated possibility of development of tolerance to hypotensive action of nifed ipine at long term use. Relation between antihypertensive effect of pr opranolol and duration of therapy was U-shaped with significant decrea se in efficacy of the drug after 2 days of treatment.