The present study examines acute titration with
captopril and chronic follow-up data on
captopril and a
diuretic in patients with all forms of
hypertension.
Captopril was initiated in those patients in whom previous
antihypertensive agents either failed to control
high blood pressure or produced adverse reactions. Acute titration was done in 88 patients in whom average diastolic blood pressure was equal to or more than 95 mm Hg. Initial titration dosage was decided on the basis of initial blood pressure recordings. During initial titration, 5 patients received 12.5 mg, 51 received 25 mg, 28 received 50 mg, and the remaining 4 received 100 mg of
captopril. Post-
captopril blood pressure data were normalized by using pre-
captopril data as 100% for each patient. The blood pressure-lowering effect of
captopril on both systolic and diastolic blood pressure in all 88 patients was statistically significant (p less than 0.05), within forty-five minutes of
captopril administration irrespective of the doses. No adverse reactions were seen during the acute titration. After the initial titration, in all 88 patients a
diuretic was added to obtain a synergistic effect. Eleven patients were dropped from the study, for they could not follow the requirements of the protocol. In 77 patients the data for a one-year safety profile with
captopril and
diuretic were available. There were no overall significant statistical changes in serial white blood cell count, serum
potassium, and serum
creatinine values in those 77 patients. In 31 patients the initial and maintenance dosage of
captopril and the
diuretic remained unaltered for one year. Post-
captopril blood pressure and heart rate data were normalized, pre-
captopril data being considered as 100% in those 31 patients. The blood pressure data following
captopril and a
diuretic therapy compared with the pre-
captopril data were statistically significant (p less than 0.05) throughout the study period. However, no significant changes in heart rates were observed during the study period. In all other patients,
diuretic therapy was continued throughout the study period. In 6 severely hypertensive patients, an additional beta-blocker was needed for further control of
high blood pressure. In 3 severe hypertensives with
renal failure, besides a
diuretic and a beta-blocker,
minoxidil was needed to normalize their
high blood pressure. In 4 of 77 patients,
verapamil was used for treatment of either vasospastic angina or paroxsysmal supraventricular
arrhythmia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)