The efficacy and safety of telmisartan compared to enalapril in patients with severe hypertension

This 8-week, open-label study compared the efficacy and safety of once-dail y telmisartan, either alone or in combination with hydrochlorothiazide (HCT Z) and amlodipine, with a similar enalapril regimen in patients with severe hypertension. Clinically relevant reductions in supine systolic blood pres sure/DBP were observed with telmisartan (14.6/13.2 mmHg) and enalapril (13. 0/12.9 mmHg) monotherapy. Incremental reductions were seen with up-titratio n of monotherapy (telmisartan 8.1/7.4 and enalapril 9.2/7.7 mmHg), and the addition of HCTZ (telmisartan 14.9/8.7 and enalapril 8.0/6.7 mmHg), and aml odipine (telmisartan 8.0/6.5 and enalapril 10.5/6.4). After 8 weeks of trea tment, supine DBP control was achieved in 55% and 35% of the patients on th e telmisartan and enalapril regimens, respectively. Both treatment regimens were well tolerated. Telmisartan, a new angiotensin receptor blocker, is a safe and effective drug to use in combination for the treatment of patient s with severe hypertension and proved at least as effective as the enalapri l combination.