Efficacy And Safety Of Combination Therapy With Amlodipine Plus Terazosin In Middle Aged And Old Male Patients With Essential Hypertension

Objective To evaluate the short-term efficacy and safety of combination therapy with amlodipine and terazosin in middle aged and old male patients with essential hypertension.Methods Randomized, prospective, parallel study was carried out in middle aged and old male patients with essential hypertension in Anqing community between August 2005 and February 2006. After informed consent , all patients were randomly divided into five groups and given amlodipine 5mg,Terazosin 1mg,Terazosin 2mg,amlodipine 5mg plus Terazosin 1mg,amlodipine 5mg plus Terazosin 2mg,once /per day ,for 4 weeks. In this article, we chose 508 patients who completed the study to appraise antihypertensive efficacy and safety of the combination therapy.Results After statistical analysis, we combine the groups that Antihypertensive efficacy is no different. We united Terazosin 1mg group and Terazosin 2mg group into one group-Terazosin group; unite amlodipine 5mg plus Terazosin 1mg group and amlodipine 5mg plus Terazosin 2mg group into one group-drug combination group. Thus, there three groups in our article-Terazosin group, amlodipine group and drug combination group.1) After 4 weeks treatment, the average reduction of SBP were (4.0±15.0), (17.5±15.8) and (20.0±15.9) mmHg in Terazosin group, amlodipine group and combination group (p<0.01). The corresponding average reduction of DBP were (1.2±7.2), (8.0±7.1) and (10.7±7.2) mmHg (p<0.01).2) The respective response rate were 20.7%, 53.8% and 67.7%; combination group significantly better than both of components alone (p<0.01).3)There were20.0%,45.0% and 49.5% patients whose blood pressure less than 140/90 mmHg after 4 weeks treatment in three groups respectively(p<0.01).4) At the end of 4 weeks, the heart rate of combination group changed from 68.9±7.7 to 67.7±6.9. There was no significant difference before and after treatment (P>0.05).5) The combination group didn't affect the levels of blood glucose, lipid, electrolyte and the function of kidney and liver (P>0.05).6)As regards tolerability, adverse experiences were observed in 4.1%, 12.3%, and 13.2% of patients, respectively (P<0.05).Orthostatic hypotension did not happen in three groups during treatment.Conclusion In conclusion, the efficacy of Combination therapy with amlodipine plus Terazosin is significantly better than both the components alone in short-term. Not only the average reduction of blood pressure but also response rate is significantly better than both of components alone. As regards safety, the combination of amlodipine and Terazosin have not influence on the levels of blood glucose, lipid and the function of kidney and liver. Moreover, the combination was tolerated as well as its components. Through the adjustment of drug dosage ,orthostatic hypotension did not happen in three groups during treatment.