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

The antihypertensive efficacy and tolerability of amlodipine 5mg was evaluated in a subgroup of 3449 patients enrolled in ail 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 greater than or equal to 95mm Hg and less than or equal to 115mm Hg commenced treatment with amlodipine 5mg once daily for 24 weeks. A significant reduction in both systolic (from 168 +/- 14 to 143 +/- 11mm Hg; p < 0.0001) and diastolic (from 101 +/- 6 to 83 +/- 5mm 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 Amlodipine was generally well tolerated; 4.9% of patients were withdrawn because of adverse events, Results showed comparable efficacy and tolerability in elderly (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 (less than or equal to 65 years of age) patients.