A comparison of the effects of two modified release preparations of nifedipine - Nifedipine retard 10 mg twice daily and nifedipine GITS 20 mg once daily - In the treatment of mild to moderate hypertension

A multicentre, randomised, double-blind, cross-over comparison of nifedipin e GITS 20 mg once daily and nifedipine retard 10 mg twice daily in 49 patie nts with mild to moderate hypertension was conducted. Both treatments resul ted in clinically significant trough blood pressure reductions (nifedipine GITS -10.1/-8.9 mmHg, nifedipine retard -7.5/-8.2 mmHg). The study demonstr ated that nifedipine GITS was 'at least equivalent' to nifedipine retard in the reduction of trough diastolic blood pressure tone-sided lower 95% conf idence limit, -1.2 mmHg). The overall incidence of adverse events (nifedipi ne GITS 25.5%, nifedipine retard 34.0%), as well as the incidences of heada che (nifedipine GITS 8.5%, nifedipine retard 12.8%) and peripheral oedema ( nifedipine GITS 2.1%, nifedipine retard 8.5%), was higher with nifedipine r etard compared to nifedipine GITS. Nifedipine GITS 20 mg once daily is 'at least equivalent' to nifedipine retard 10 mg twice daily in patients with m ild to moderate hypertension, as well as being better tolerated.