An Evaluation of the Pharmacodynamics and Pharmacokinetics of Nicardipine Combined with Enalapril in Essential Hypertension

Abstract

Summary: Recent observations suggest that calcium antagonists may enhance the antihypertensive effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. Twelve essential hypertensives who had blood pressures > 160/90 after a minimum of 6 weeks of monotherapy with the ACE inhibitor enalapril 20 mg daily received additional treatment with nicardipine 30 mg t.i.d. and placebo, each for 2 weeks, in a double-blind crossover study. The combination of nicardipine with enalapril was well tolerated. The addition of the first dose of nicardipine was associated with significant reductions (p