A hospital out-patient study of timolol/bendrofluazide combination (‘Prestim’) in essential hypertension

A study was carried out in 44 patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension attending a hypertension clinic in a general hospital. Treatment was administered using fixed-dose combination tablets of timolol maleate (10 mg) and bendrofluazide (2.5 mg) taken twice daily for 16 weeks, in order to assess the efficacy and side-effects of this combination and to monitor changes in serum electrolytes and other biochemical indices. Blood pressure control (supine diastolic blood pressure less than or equal to 95 mmHg) was achieved in 38 (86%) patients on a mean dose of 2.6 tablets daily (range 1 to 4 tablets). Adverse effects were uncommon, 3 (6%) patients being withdrawn at an early stage. In a complementary investigation, 14 patients who completed the 16-weeks' treatment were changed onto a regimen in which the drug dosage remained unchanged but was taken on a once-daily basis for a further 16 weeks to assess the efficacy of once-daily dosing and to monitor any further long-term changes in biochemistry. The trend of changes in biochemical indices which were observed in the 16-week study tended to reverse during the second 16 weeks so that, overall, changes in biochemistry were minimal. The combination of timolol maleate and bendrofluazide was effective in controlling blood pressure in most mild to moderate hypertensives and the dose range allowed accurate titration of dosing for each patient. The effect was equal on a once-daily or a twice-daily dosage.