ABSTRACT

The recommendation for first-line therapy for hypertension remains a beta blocker or diuretic given in a low dosage. A target blood pressure of less than 140/90 mm Hg is achieved in about 50 percent of patients treated with monotherapy; two or more agents from different pharmacological classes are often needed to achieve adequate blood pressure control. Single-dose combination antihypertension therapyis an important option that combines efficacy of blood pressure reduction and a low side effect profilewith convenient once-daily dosing to enhance compliance. Combination antihypertensives include combined agents from the following pharmacological classes: diuretics and potassium-sparing diuretics,beta blockers and diuretics, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and diuretics, angiotensin-II antagonists and diuretics and calcium channel blockers and ACE inhibitors.