Nitrendipine treatment of mild-to-moderate hypertension.

Thirty-six outpatients with mild-to-moderate essential arterial hypertension were studied in order to assess the antihypertensive efficacy and tolerability of nitrendipine. In this double blind randomized double dummy study, the patients were randomly assigned to three equal groups and treated with nitrendipine 20 mg once daily + placebo, 10 mg twice daily, or 10 mg once daily + placebo; the study period was five weeks. Thirty-one of 36 patients achieved complete control of blood pressure levels according to H.D.F.P. criteria; the statistical evaluation performed with ANOVA showed no significant differences in arterial pressure levels between treatments. No side effects were reported. Nitrendipine appears to be effective in a daily dose of 10 mg in a single administration.