ANTIHYPERTENSIVE EFFECTS OF MOEXIPRIL, A NEW ACE-INHIBITOR, AS ADD-ONTHERAPY TO NIFEDIPINE IN PATIENTS WITH ESSENTIAL-HYPERTENSION

Moexipril is a new nonpeptide angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhi bitor with an intermediate duration of action. The antihypertensive ef ficacy and safety of moexipril as add-on therapy to nifedipine retard (20 mg b.i.d.) was compared to placebo during 8 weeks in a double-blin d trial with a parallel group design. A total of 203 patients with ess ential hypertension and a sitting diastolic blood pressure (DBP) great er than or equal to 95 mm Hg on nifedipine alone were randomly assigne d to placebo or moexipril 3.75 mg o.d., 7.5 mg o.d., or 15 mg o.d. At endpoint, the adjusted mean reductions in DBP from baseline were 6 mm Hg, 9 mm Hg (p < 0.01), and 9 mm Hg (p < 0.05) in the moexipril 3.75 m g, 7.5 mg, and 15 mg groups, respectively, compared to 5 mm Hg in the placebo group. All dosages of moexipril were well tolerated, and the o verall percentages of patients who reported adverse experiences were s maller than in the placebo group. We concluded that moexipril as add-o n therapy to nifedipine is well tolerated and gives additional antihyp ertensive effects.