MOEXIPRIL IN THE TREATMENT OF MILD-TO-MODERATE ESSENTIAL-HYPERTENSION- COMPARISON WITH SUSTAINED-RELEASE VERAPAMIL

To compare and contrast the antihypertensive efficacy of an angiotensi n-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor to a calcium antagonist, 88 and 90 patients with essential hypertension were randomly assigned to receiv e moexipril and verapamil, respectively, At the end of the first 6 wee ks of active therapy, sitting diastolic blood pressure decreased by 11 mmHg in patients receiving moexipril and by 9 mmHg in patients receiv ing verapamil. The 24-week treatment period was completed by 72 patien ts who received moexipril and 71 patients who received verapamil. Mean decreases in sitting diastolic blood pressure of 10 mmHg and 11 mmHg were observed in the respective intent-to-treat moexipril and verapami l groups, Ar doses of 7.5 mg and 15 mg once daily, moexipril had an an tihypertensive effect comparable to that of sustained-release verapami l at doses of 180 mg and 240 mg once daily.