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AN AUDIT OF NIFEDIPINE IN A HYPERTENSION CLINIC
Author(s) -
Gill J. S.,
Zezulka A. V.,
Beevers M.,
Beevers D. G.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
journal of clinical pharmacy and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.622
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1365-2710
pISSN - 0269-4727
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2710.1986.tb00834.x
Subject(s) - nifedipine , medicine , blood pressure , side effect (computer science) , antihypertensive drug , diastole , albumin , drug , anesthesia , endocrinology , pharmacology , calcium , computer science , programming language
SUMMARY The results of treating 235 hypertensive patients who had been prescribed nifedipine in a hypertension clinic were examined for factors affecting blood pressure response and the frequency of side‐effects. Pretreatment systolic and diastolic blood pressure correlated significantly with the decrease in blood pressure but this effect was lost following statistical correction. No relation was found between response and age or race nor did any biochemical or haematological parameter predict the antihypertensive effect. Fifty‐nine (25%) patients complained of side‐effects which were dose related; the drug had to be discontinued in 30 patients (13%) but the remaining 29 continued at the same or reduced dosage. Small, but statistically significant, elevations were seen in serum albumin, alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin as well as a rise in average blood glucose levels. Although side‐effects are fairly common nifedipine is an effective antihypertensive drug when given alone or in combination with other therapies.