Abstract
The effect of nicardipine hydrochloride on casual blood pressure and 24-hour ambulatoryblood pressure, and pulse rate was studied. The effect obtained with tablets (20mg, t.i.d.) and sustained-release formulation (LA) (40 mg, b.i.d.) was compared by the crossover method in patients with essential hypertension.
1) Both systolic and diastolic casual blood pressures showed a significant decrease after administration of nicardipine tablets and LA. On the other hand, the pulse rateshowed nosignificant change.
2) In the 24-hour blood pressure monitoring, the antihypertensive effect of nicardipine LA on the systolic blood pressure tended to be stronger than that of nicardipine tablets. There were no significant differences in blood pressure level between the two drugs during the daytime. During the night, however, the antihypertensive effect of nicardipine LA on the systolic and diastolic blood pressures was significantly stronger than that of nicardipine tablets.
3) In the analysis of periodic regression curves, the levels were significantly reduced by nicardipine tablet and nicardipine LA as compared with the control period, while thepattern for nicardipine LA was similar to that in the control period rather than for nicardipine tablet.
We conclude that nicardipine tablets are useful for patients including the elderly in whom excessive nocturnal hypotension should be avoided. While nicardipine LA is useful for patients who need the nocturnal decrease in blood pressure and the suppression of the morning surge of blood pressure.
