EFFICACY AND TOLERABILITY OF AMLODIPINE 5MG MONOTHERAPY IN MILD-TO-MODERATE ESSENTIAL-HYPERTENSION

The antihypertensive efficacy and tolerability of amlodipine 5mg was e valuated in a subgroup of 3449 patients enrolled in ail open multicent re study involving a total of 9295 patients with mild to moderate esse ntial hypertension, After an initial 2-week washout period, patients w ith an average diastolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 95mm Hg and less than or equal to 115mm Hg commenced treatment with amlodip ine 5mg once daily for 24 weeks. A significant reduction in both systo lic (from 168 +/- 14 to 143 +/- 11mm Hg; p < 0.0001) and diastolic (fr om 101 +/- 6 to 83 +/- 5mm Hg: p < 0.0001) sitting blood pressure was noted during the study. Heart rate was not affected. Amlodipine was ge nerally well tolerated; 4.9% of patients were withdrawn because of adv erse events, Results showed comparable efficacy and tolerability in el derly (> 65 years of age) as well as young (less than or equal to 65 y ears of age) patients.