SUSTAINED-RELEASE VERAPAMIL AND TRANDOLAPRIL, ALONE AND IN COMBINATION, IN THE TREATMENT OF OBESE HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS - A DOUBLE-BLIND PILOT-STUDY

The purpose of this pilot study was to compare the ability of sustaine d-release verapamil (verapamil SR) and trandolapril, both alone and co mbined in half doses, to reduce blood pressure in obese patients with mild-to-moderate essential hypertension. Twenty patients (13 men and 7 women) took part in the study. Ten (group A) received verapamil SR 24 0 mg/d, and 10 (group B) received trandolapril 2 mg/d for 6 weeks. All patients were then given both drugs in half-doses for 6 weeks. After combination therapy, group B received verapamil SR 240 mg/d, and group A received trandolapril 2 mg/d for 6 weeks. When verapamil and trando lapril were used alone, systolic and diastolic blood pressures decreas ed significantly in each group. However, systolic and diastolic blood pressures fell further when combination therapy was used and rose slig htly when the treatment was changed again to single-drug therapy. Side effects were fewer during the combination therapy. Thus the combinati on of half doses of verapamil SR and trandolapril was more effective i n reducing blood pressure in obese patients with mild-to-moderate esse ntial hypertension than a full dose of either drug given alone.