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In a double-blind study with parallel groups 195 hypertensive patients were randomly allocated to treatment with either conventional tablets of metoprolol, 100 mg once daily, or a new controlled-release (CR) formulation of metoprolol, 100 mg once daily. The dose was doubled if the patient's diastolic blood pressure remained ≥95 mmHg after six weeks on 100 mg, whereas well-controlled patients continued on 100 mg once daily for a further six-week period. In the metoprolol tablet group the 200 mg dose was administered in the form of Durules. There was a significant reduction from the placebo baseline in systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate at 24 h after both six weeks and 12 weeks of active treatment; no significant difference in the mean reduction from baseline between the two groups was demonstrated. However, significantly more patients responded to treatment with metoprolol CR when compared with those patients taking metoprolol tablets. After six weeks of active treatment 61% of the metoprolol CR group and 56% of the conventional metoprolol tablet group had a diastolic blood pressure <95 mmHg. After another six weeks the corresponding figures were 83% and 69% respectively. Between week 6 and 12, 36% of patients in the metoprolol CR group and 42% of patients in the conventional metoprolol tablet group were receiving a 200 mg dose. All formulations of metoprolol were well-tolerated. Fewer subjective symptoms were reported during active treatment than during the placebo phase. There were no differences between the groups with regard to changes in laboratory variables from baseline, changes in all combined symptoms, or changes in any one symptom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A multicentre randomised double-blind trial was performed in order to compare the therapeutic efficacy and acceptability of the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor perindopril with those of atenolol in mild to moderate hypertension. After one month of placebo, 173 patients with supine diastolic blood pressure (DBP) between 95 and 125 mmHg were randomised to receive perindopril 4 mg once daily or atenolol 50 mg once daily. Monthly assessments were made for three months. Treatment was adjusted at these visits if supine DBP was greater than 90 mmHg; the dose was first doubled (8 mg perindopril or 100 mg atenolol once daily) and then hydrochlorothiazide was added. The pretreatment blood pressure levels were similar in both groups. Supine DBP was 105.5 +/- 0.9 mmHg (n = 85) in the perindopril group and 106.9 +/- 0.9 mmHg (n = 88) in the atenolol group. At the end of the third month, the study target blood pressure (supine DBP less than or equal to 90 mmHg) was achieved in a significantly (P = 0.006) larger percentage of patients in the perindopril group (78%) than in the atenolol group (58%). This appeared to be due to a greater potentiation of the antihypertensive effect by the addition of diuretic to perindopril than to atenolol. The fall in systolic blood pressure was significantly greater in the perindopril group than in the atenolol group (supine: 26.5 +/- 2.0 mmHg vs. 20.6 +/- 2.0 mmHg; P = 0.042) although the fall in DBP was comparable (supine: perindopril 17.4 +/- 0.9 mmHg, atenolol 15.6 +/- 1.1 mmHg; P = 0.195).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)