Calcium antagonists combined with beta-blockers or ACE inhibitors in the treatment of hypertension.

During the last few years, there has been a growing awareness that treated hypertensive patients are still at substantially increased risks for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and that one conceivable explanation for this is that their blood pressure has not been lowered to strictly normotensive levels. To obtain normotensive blood pressures, it may be necessary to skillfully combine antihypertensive drugs much more frequently than has been common so far. In this context, calcium antagonists in combination with beta-blockers are of special interest, since several controlled studies have shown that a combination between a beta-blocker and nifedipine, nitrendipine, isradipine, or felodipine have been remarkably potent as regards their antihypertensive effect. In controlled trials, such combinations have also been shown to be more effective and better tolerated than a combination between a beta-blocker and hydralazine. Marked efficacy has also been noted when a calcium antagonist has been combined with an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor. So far, most studies have dealt with small numbers of patients and study design has not always been optimal. Results from controlled studies will presumably be ready for presentation in the near future. It can be concluded that combination therapy between calcium antagonists and beta-blockers or ACE inhibitors appear to be markedly effective and well tolerated. This would offer the possibility of reducing elevated arterial pressure to normotensive levels in many hypertensive patients.