EFFECTS OF NISOLDIPINE ON AMBULATORY BLOOD-PRESSURE IN PATIENTS WITH ESSENTIAL-HYPERTENSION

Noninvasive portable automatic sphygmomanometers were used to monitor 24-hour blood pressure in patients with essential hypertension to investigate the effects of nisoldipine on circadian variations in blood pressure. Both systolic and diastolic blood pressures decreased following a single oral dose of 5 mg of nisoldipine and this effect was maintained for approximately 12 hours. Adequate antihypertensive efficacy was achieved after two weeks on 5 mg of nisoldipine, once daily in the morning. The decreases in blood pressure at night were mild in comparison with the decreases during the daytime. Analysis of the data as cumulative percentages proved both systolic and diastolic blood pressures were decreased and both high and low blood pressures were decreased to equal degree. An antihypertensive effect was achieved without affecting the original circadian blood pressure rhythm seen during the observation period. In summary, an adequate antihypertensive effect may be achieved both with acute and chronic administration of once-daily nisoldipine. In addition, the effect on nocturnal blood pressures is relatively mild. Once-daily administration is advantageous in improving patient compliance.