The long-term efficacy and safety profile of barnidipine.

Two multicentre trials have investigated the efficacy and tolerability of treatment with once-daily barnidipine, in patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension. The long-term efficacy and safety of barnidipine were demonstrated in a long-term, multicentre, open-label study. In total, 106, 79 and 32 patients were followed for the first, second and third year, respectively. Patients received barnidipine at a dose titrated to achieve a sitting DBP > or = 90 mmHg or a decrease in sitting BDP > or = 10 mmHg. If necessary, another antihypertensive agent was added to achieve normalisation of blood pressure. In the first year, normalisation of blood pressure was achieved in 91% of patients. This was maintained in 91% and 81% of patients in the second and third years, respectively. At the end of treatment in both years, over 60% of patients remained on barnidipine monotherapy (10 or 20 mg/day). A low incidence of adverse events possibly or probably related to barnidipine (10 or 20 mg/day) monotherapy was reported in the first and second years with headache, peripheral oedema and palpitations the most commonly reported. In the third year of follow-up, only one adverse event, an ECG abnormality, was considered to be possibly related to the study medication. The effective 24 hour control of blood pressure with barnidipine monotherapy was confirmed in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study of 20 patients. These patients were given 6 week regimens of both barnidipine (20 mg/day) and placebo. Office and 24 hour ambulatory blood pressures were recorded at the end of each treatment phase. Barnidipine lowered blood pressure to a significantly greater extent than placebo both at night and during the day. Adverse events were classified as mild or moderate and fewer adverse events were reported with barnidipine treatment compared with placebo. Barnidipine monotherapy (20 mg/day) is safe and effective in providing 24 hour control of blood pressure. Furthermore, the efficacy and tolerability of barnidipine monotherapy (10 or 20 mg/day) are maintained for at least 2 years.