A COMPARISON OF NISOLDIPINE COAT-CORE AND FELODIPINE IN THE TREATMENTOF MILD-TO-MODERATE HYPERTENSION

The efficacy and safety of nisoldipine CC and felodipine were compared in a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, trial in patients with mi ld-to-moderate hypertension (n=229). Following a two-week placebo run- in period, patients were randomised to 16 weeks' active treatment with nisoldipine coat core (CC) 20-40 mg or felodipine 5-10 mg once daily. At week 16, a higher proportion of patients in the nisoldipine CC gro up were on low-dose therapy (51% vs 36%, p=0.07). The proportion of tr eatment responders was 77.8% with nisoldipine CC and 66.5% with felodi pine. The mean change from baseline in systolic/diastolic blood pressu re was -18.8/-13.6 mmHg with nisoldipine CC and -17.4 /-11.3 mmHg with felodipine. The most common adverse events included peripheral oedema and headache; neither treatment affected heart rate. Thus, nisoldipin e CC and felodipine provide comparable antihypertensive efficacy. The adverse effects of both drugs are related to their vasodilator propert ies and are common to the class.