350 Postgrad Med J 2000;76:350–353 Evaluation of amlodipine, lisinopril, and a Postgrad Med J: first published as 10.1136/pmj.76.896.350 on 1 June 2000. Downloaded from combination in the treatment of essential hypertension M U R Naidu, P R Usha, T Ramesh Kumar Rao, J C Shobha Abstract classes now provides a multitude of potential Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) drug combinations.1 Proper understanding of inhibitors and dihydropyridine calcium the underlying mechanism by which the antagonists are well established and various classes of antihypertensive drugs act widely used as monotherapy in patients together provides the rationale of developing with mild to moderate essential hyper- eVective combinations.2 tension. Earlier studies combining short Both angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) acting drugs from these classes require inhibitors and dihydropyridine calcium an- multiple dosing and were associated with tagonists are well established and widely used poor compliance. Availability of longer in monotherapy. An understanding of diVer- acting compounds allows once daily ad- ences in the mechanism of action of these ministration to avoid the inconvenience of agents allows a logical approach for the use of a multiple daily dose. It was decided to these agents as a combination therapy. Calcium perform a randomised double blind, antagonists are vasodilatory and tend to crossover study with the long acting increase plasma renin, therefore combination calcium channel blocker amlodipine and with an ACE inhibitor is theoretically sound.3 the long acting ACE inhibitor lisinopril, Furthermore, calcium antagonists of the dihy- given either alone or in combination in dropyridine group have been shown to have a essential hypertension. Twenty four pa- diuretic and natriuretic eVect, which again tients with diastolic blood pressure (DBP) should combine well with ACE inhibitors.4 between 95 and 104 mm Hg received Calcium antagonists and ACE inhibitors in amlodipine 2.5 mg and 5 mg, lisinopril 5 combination reduce blood pressure more than mg and 10 mg, and their combination as either drug alone.4 per a prior randomisation schedule. Su- Regardless of the order of administration, pine and standing blood pressure and the combination of nifedipine and captopril heart rate were recorded at weekly inter- was found to be significantly more eVective vals. Higher doses of both the drugs than the individual agents.5 However the eVect individually or in combination were used was short lived due to the short duration of http://pmj.bmj.com/ if the target supine DBP below 90 mm Hg action of both the drugs. Therapy with 5 mg was not achieved. There was a significant enalapril and 5 mg felodipine produced a additional blood pressure lowering eVect significant decrease in both supine and erect with the combination when compared blood pressure.6 Longer acting compounds of either with amlodipine or lisinopril alone. both classes, like amlodipine and lisinopril, Five mg amlodipine and 10 mg lisinopril have now become available allowing once daily monotherapy achieved the target blood administration. on September 26, 2021 by guest. Protected copyright. pressure in 71% and 72% patients respec- The aim of the present study was to compare tively. The combination of 2.5 mg am- in a double blind, randomised, crossover lodipine with 5 mg lisinopril produced a design, the eYcacy and safety of the long acting much more significant lowering of blood calcium channel antagonist amlodipine and the pressure in a higher percentage of patients long acting ACE inhibitor lisinopril, individu- Department of Clinical than that with an individual low dose. Pharmacology and ally and in combination in mild to moderate (Postgrad Med J 2000;76:350–353) Therapeutics, Nizam’s hypertension. Institute of Medical Keywords: amlodipine; lisinopril; hypertension; combi- Sciences, Panjagutta, nation therapy Patients and methods Hyderabad, India Patients presenting to the outpatient depart- M U R Naidu P R Usha ment with mild to moderate hypertension, with TRKRao It is well known that monotherapy does not a supine diastolic blood pressure (DBP) J C Shobha provide therapeutic response in all hyperten- between 95 and 104 mm Hg, after two weeks sives. Some patients show an excellent re- oV all antihypertensive treatment, and found to Correspondence to: Professor M U R Naidu, sponse, while in others there is a poor response. have no secondary cause of hypertension, were Department of Clinical Combination antihypertensive therapy is ad- enrolled. Patients with renal and hepatic Pharmacology and ministered when blood pressure is inad- impairment, ischaemic heart disease, cerebro- Therapeutics, Nizam’s vascular disease, diabetes mellitus, pregnant Institute of Medical equately controlled by monotherapy to achieve Sciences, Hyderabad 500 a balanced and additive antihypertensive eVect women, or those who were taking oral contra- 082, India (e-mail: with minimum adverse eVects.1 Until recently, ceptives were excluded from the study. Before [email protected]) combination therapy generally employed a inclusion into the present study protocol, regu- Submitted 13 August 1999 diuretic, but the availability of new classes of lar measurement of blood pressure was carried Accepted 18 August 1999 drugs and improved agents within the existing out at weekly intervals for four weeks. Patients Amlodipine and lisinopril in essential hypertension 351 Table 1 EVect of amlodipine, lisinopril, and their combination on mean blood pressure and heart rate; values are mean Postgrad Med J: first published as 10.1136/pmj.76.896.350 on 1 June 2000. Downloaded from (SD) Supine Standing SBP DBP Heart rate SBP DBP Heart rate (mm Hg) (mm Hg) (bpm) (mm Hg) (mm Hg) (bpm) Placebo 149 (10) 98 (6) 76 (6) 155 (11) 103 (7) 77 (8) Amlodipine 2.5 mg 140 (11)* 92 (7)* 73 (6) 143 (12)* 93 (8)* 76 (5) Amlodipine 5 mg 137 (7)* 85 (6)* 74 (5) 138 (6)* 88 (6)* 76 (7) Lisinopril 5 mg 138 (10)* 90 (8)* 75 (5) 140 (10)* 92 (6)* 76 (4) Lisinopril 10 mg 136 (9)* 87 (5)* 74 (3) 138 (9)* 98 (5)* 77 (5) Amlodipine 2.5 mg + lisinopril 5 mg 131 (9)* 82 (7)* 73 (5) 132 (9)* 83 (7)* 74 (4) Amlodipine 5 mg + lisinopril 10 mg 127 (9)* 79 (5)* 74 (5) 129 (7)* 79 (5)* 77 (4) DBP = diastolic blood presssure; SBP = systolic blood pressure. *p<0.001. gave their written informed consent for their table 1. After the placebo run in phase, the participation in this institutional ethics com- mean (SD) supine blood pressure was 149 mittee approved study. A total of 30 patients (10)/98 (6) mm Hg and the standing blood (16 male and 14 female) fulfilled the inclusion pressure was 155 (11)/103 (7) mm Hg. The and exclusion criteria and were included in the supine and standing heart rate were 76 (6) and study. 77 (8) beats/min respectively. Amlodipine 2.5 After four weeks of a placebo run in phase, mg and 5 mg produced a significant fall in both patients entered in the double blind, ran- supine and standing blood pressure. Treatment domised crossover study phase. Patients were with lisinopril in doses of 5 mg and 10 mg also randomised to receive initially amlodipine or significantly decreased supine and standing lisinopril and then their combination. Each blood pressure. The mean DBP (below target active drug treatment period lasted for four 90 mm Hg) was achieved in a higher weeks. In monotherapy, amlodipine was used percentage of patients with 5 mg amlodipine in the dose of 2.5 mg daily for two weeks, the and 10 mg lisinopril monotherapy. There was a dose was increased to 5 mg daily for patients in greater reduction in systolic blood pressure whom the supine DBP was above 90 mm Hg. (SBP) and DBP in supine and standing The other group received lisinopril 5 mg daily positions with the combination of amlodipine for two weeks, then increased to 10 mg daily if and lisinopril than the individual drugs. Com- supine DBP was more than 90 mm Hg. For bination of amlodipine 2.5 mg and lisinopril 5 combination therapy, treatment was started mg reduced the mean DBP below 90 mm Hg with 2.5 mg amlodipine and 10 mg lisinopril in 54% of patients. per day. If after two weeks, the supine DBP was The mean (SD) supine blood pressure was more than 90 mm Hg, a combination of 5 mg significantly reduced from 149 (10)/98 (6) to amlodipine and 10 mg lisinopril was used. 140 (11)/92 (7) and 137 (7)/85 (6) mm Hg http://pmj.bmj.com/ Blood pressure was measured at each visit with 2.5 and 5 mg amlodipine respectively between 9 am and 10 am, 24 hours after the (p<0.001). There was a significant fall in previous dose. standing blood pressure from 155 (11)/103 (7) The supine (10 min) and standing (2 min) to 143 (12)/93 (8) and 138 (6)/88 (6) mm Hg blood pressure were determined with appropri- with 2.5 and 5 mg amlodipine respectively ate cuV size by the same observer using L&T (p<0.001). Minimon 7133 A blood pressure monitor and Lisinopril at 5 mg and 10 mg also produced the mean of three readings was noted. Pulse a significant dose dependent decrease in supine on September 26, 2021 by guest. Protected copyright. rate was recorded simultaneously using a L&T and standing blood pressure from the basal Micromon 7142 pulse monitor. Patients were value to 138 (10)/90 (8), 136 (7)/87 (5), 40 asked if there had been any change in their pre- (10)/92 (6), and 138 (9)/89 (5) mm Hg respec- senting symptoms or development of new tively (p<0.001). There was a more marked fall symptoms at each follow up visit.