Efficacy and tolerability of amlodipine 5 mg monotherapy in mild to moderate essential hypertension

The antihypertensive efficacy and tolerability of amlodipine 5 mg was evaluated in a subgroup of 3449 patients enrolled in an open multicentre study involving a total of 9295 patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension. After an initial 2-week washout period, patients with an average diastolic blood pressure ≤ 95 mm Hg and ≤ 115 mm Hg commenced treatment with amlodipine 5 mg once daily for 24 weeks. A significant reduction in both systolic (from 168 ± 14 to 143 ± 11 mm Hg p <0.0001) and diastolic (from 101 ± 6 to 83 ± 5 mm Hg; p <0.0001) sitting blood pressure was noted during the study. Heart rate was not affected. Amlodipine was generally well tolerated; 4.9% of patients were withdrawn because of adverse events. Results showed comparable efficacy and tolerability in elderly (> 65 years of age) as well as young (≤ 65 years of age) patients.