[Are the newer antihypertensive agents better and more effective than diuretics?].

BACKGROUND

In recent years, the expenses for medical antihypertensive therapy have increased considerably, the main reason being the switchover to newer and more expensive antihypertensive drugs.

RESULTS

Several recent studies which have compared the efficacy of the older, conventional drugs (thiazid diuretics and beta-blockers) with the newer agents (calcium blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors), have shown that they are almost equipotent with regard to effects on blood pressure, morbidity and mortality. At lower doses, the metabolic effects of thiazide diuretics are minimal and probably without clinical significance, and the risk of developing diabetes mellitus type 2 does not seem to be increased.

INTERPRETATION

The cheaper thiazide diuretics are still valuable drugs in the treatment of hypertension. If more than one agent is necessary to reduce blood pressure to the desired level, they can be combined with other antihypertensive agents.