Hypotensive action of nifedipine (Ca2+-antagonist) and propranolol in acute trials and its long-term therapy of hypertensive coronary heart disease patients.

The hypotensive effect of nifedipine (a Ca2+-antagonist) was studied in acute tests and during the long-term administration of the drug together with propranolol. Nifedipine (10 mg, sublingually) decreased blood pressure from 174/102 to 136/82 mmHg with increase in heart rate and plasma renin activity. The combination of nifedipine (10 mg, sublingually) and propranolol (0.2 mg/Kg body weight, intravenously) decreased blood pressure from 168/104 to 131/86 mmHg with decrease in heart rate and plasma renin activity. Twenty-five hypertensive patients were treated with nifedipine and propranolol (10 mg x 3 to 4/day) together with or without diuretic for long-term. With the combination therapy, blood pressure of Group I (11 hypertensive patients with coronary heart disease) fell from 211/129 to 140/85 mmHg, blood pressure of Group II (9 severe hypertensive patients without coronary heart disease) from 230/137 to 139/84 mmHg, and blood pressure of Group III (5 established hypertension) from 182/107 to 134/83 mmHg. With this treatment regimen, heart rate and plasma renin activity decreased, and abnormal electrocardiographic findings, hypertensive retinopathy, and renal dysfunction were improved. Nifedipine, in combination with propranolol and a diuretic, is considered an effective treatment of hypertension either with or without coronary heart disease.