Comparison of Alprazolam and Low-dose of Risperidone as an Adjunctive Therapy to Enalapril in the Treatment of Mild-to-Moderate Essential Hypertension

摘要

Objectives: To compare the efficacy of alprazolam and risperidone with placebo as a part of adjunctive therapy to enalapril (asprincipal drug) in the management of mild-to-moderate essential hypertension.Methods: Patients attending the cardiology OPD of the Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences (HIMS) diagnosed as mild-to-moderate essential hypertension were enrolled. 30 patients were recruited to the study protocol and were randomised into threegroups i.e., group I: patients on tab. enalapril + tab. placebo (HS); group II: patients on tab. enalapril + tab. alprazolam (0.5 mg HS)and group III: patients on tab. enalapril + tab. risperidone (0.5 mg HS). The following parameters were analysed after a period of 8weeks: (a) BP, (b) adverse drug reactions, (c) QOL measures, (d) patient compliance.Results: A significant drop in systolic bloo d pressure (SBP) was observed in the risperidone and placebo group as compared to thealprazolam group. There was no treatment withdrawal because of adverse drug reactions. There was no significant change inquality of life (QOL) scores after 8 weeks of adjunctive therapy. Adherence to treatment regimen was > 90%. Magnitude of BPreduction among the three treatment groups after 8 weeks of the study period was similar, though a significant drop in SBP wasobserved in the risperidone and placebo group.Conclusion: Adjunctive therapies used in the present study are equally effective as the non-pharmacological lifestyle modificationsin vogue, but the balance is to be maintained between the QOL and the therapy selected