Amlodipine 2.5 mg once daily in older hypertensives: a Brazilian multi-centre study.

摘要

OBJECTIVES: The use of low-dose amlodipine has not yet been well established in the elderly. This study therefore aimed to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of low-dose amlodipine in elderly patients with Joint National Committee VI stage I or II hypertension. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty-five hypertensive individuals (aged 66.3+/-5.3 years) received amlodipine 2.5 mg per day for 12 weeks before and after two periods of 4 weeks of placebo. At weeks 0, 12 and 16, patients were submitted to office, 24 h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and home blood pressure measurement. RESULTS: Office systolic and diastolic blood pressure showed decreases at weeks 8 (153+/-17, 90+/-9 mmHg) and 12 (152+/-16, 90+/-9 mmHg) compared with weeks 0 (164+/-16, 99+/-6 mmHg) and 16 (162+/-19, 95+/-9 mmHg). During ambulatory monitoring, a decrease was observed in the average 24 h systolic and diastolic pressure at week 12 (143+/-13, 86+/-7 mmHg) compared with weeks 0 (155+/-15, 93+/-6 mmHg) and 16 (152+/-16, 92+/-8 mmHg). A daytime and night-time reduction in systolic and diastolic pressure was observed on home blood pressure monitoring at week 12 (146+/-16/88+/-8, 144+/-16/93+/-8 mmHg) compared with weeks 0 (159+/-17/94+/-8, 161+/-19/93+/-8 mmHg) and 16 (153+/-16/93+/-8, 154+/-17/92+/-8 mmHg). Adverse reactions were infrequent. CONCLUSIONS: Amlodipine at a dose of 2.5 mg per day showed efficacy and good tolerability in elderly hypertensives.