TREATMENT OF HYPERTENSION WITH INDAPAMIDE 1.5 MG SUSTAINED-RELEASE FORM - SYNTHESIS OF RESULTS

In accordance with international recommendations on the need to decrea se doses of antihypertensive drugs, a low-dose (1.5 mg) sustained-rele ase form of indapamide was developed so as to optimize the safety/effi cacy ratio, while maintaining a once-daily administration. The new for mulation ensures that the active ingredient release occurs in a sustai ned manner over 24 hours, with mean concentrations close to the maxima l concentration over a prolonged period, while avoiding peak plasma co ncentrations. Clinical data were obtained mainly through two European multicenter, randomized, double-blind trials, totalling 690 patients. Firstly, the antihypertensive efficacy of the new indapamide 1.5 mg fo rm was demonstrated by measuring blood pressure 24 hours after the las t drug intake, using a mercury sphygmomanometer ; the equivalence of i ts antihypertensive efficacy with the immediate-release form of indapa mide 2.5 mg was then verified. Biochemical safety data showed better a cceptability with indapamide 1.5 mg with in particular a reduction of more than 50 % of the number of patients with kalemia <3.4 mmol/l; cli nical safety data confirmed the good acceptability observed with the 2 .5 mg immediate-release form of indapamide since many years, especiall y regarding glucose and lipid neutrality. In conclusion, the 1.5 mg su stained-release form of indapamide has an improved antihypertensive ef ficacy/safety ratio which is in accordance with international recommen dations for the usage of low doses of antihypertensive drugs and diure tics in the first-line treatment of hypertension.