Nifedipine-retard alone and incombination with metoprolol: comparative efficacy andsafety in patients with arterial hypertension

Aim. To compare efficacy and safety of nifedipin-retard (cordaflex-retard, Egis, Hungary) used in
monotherapy and in combination with metoprolol (egilok, Egis, Hungary) in patients with arterial hypertension (AH).
Material and methods. The study included 20 patients with AH stage I-II (12 males, 8 females,
mean age 57.3 years, mean duration of the disease 8.6 years). Nifedipin-retard was given in a daily
dose 40 mg/day (20 mg twice a day) in monotherapy and 20 mg/day in combination with metoprolol
which was administered 50 mg twice a day (a daily dose 100 mg/day). The control examination consisted of a physical examination, measurement of arterial pressure (AP) by Korotkov, registration of
heart rate, ECG, 24-h AP monitoring, echocardiography.
Results. By 24-h AP monitoring, a 4-week treatment with nifedipin-retard alone resulted in lowering
of systolic arterial pressure. The combined treatment produced a more pronounced fall both in systolic
and diastolic pressure. Diastolic left-ventricular function improved in combined therapy. Side effects
observed in nifedipin-retard monotherapy got much more weaker when this drug combined with metoprolol.
Conclusion. Combination of nifedipin-retard with metoprolol provides better clinical response and tolerance than monotherapy with nifedipin-retard.

calcium antagonists, nifedipinretard, metoprolol, 24-h monitoring of arterial pressure, arterial hypertension