The antihypertensive effect and safety of long-term therapy with nifedipine were evaluated in 132 hypertensive patients, including 100 aged patients who received nifedipine alone or with other antihypertensive agents for a mean duration of 28.6 months.
A prompt hypotensive effect was observed 1 month after the initiation of nifedipine therapy. The hypotensive effect persisted for the entire follow-up period and was related to the pretreatment mean blood pressure level. Late drug tolerance was not observed.
Dizziness, facial flushing and other unpleasant sensations were observed in 7.5% and ankle edema in 9.8% of the patients. The therapy did not significantly influence serum creatinine levels. Hypotension and side effects were the cause of discontinuation in 10.6% and 4.5% of patients, respectively.
We conclude that long-term antihypertensive therapy with nifedipine is both effective and safe, not only in adult patients but also in the high-risk aged patient.