The hypotensive effect of
nifedipine (a Ca2+-antagonist) was studied in acute tests and during the long-term administration of the
drug together with
propranolol.
Nifedipine (10 mg, sublingually) decreased blood pressure from 174/102 to 136/82 mmHg with increase in heart rate and plasma
renin activity. The combination of
nifedipine (10 mg, sublingually) and
propranolol (0.2 mg/Kg
body weight, intravenously) decreased blood pressure from 168/104 to 131/86 mmHg with decrease in heart rate and plasma
renin activity. Twenty-five hypertensive patients were treated with
nifedipine and
propranolol (10 mg x 3 to 4/day) together with or without
diuretic for long-term. With the combination
therapy, blood pressure of Group I (11 hypertensive patients with
coronary heart disease) fell from 211/129 to 140/85 mmHg, blood pressure of Group II (9 severe hypertensive patients without
coronary heart disease) from 230/137 to 139/84 mmHg, and blood pressure of Group III (5 established
hypertension) from 182/107 to 134/83 mmHg. With this treatment regimen, heart rate and plasma
renin activity decreased, and abnormal electrocardiographic findings,
hypertensive retinopathy, and renal dysfunction were improved.
Nifedipine, in combination with
propranolol and a
diuretic, is considered an effective treatment of
hypertension either with or without
coronary heart disease.