Treatment of hypertension with calcium antagonists.

Calcium antagonists are the latest addition to the antihypertensive armamentarium. The evidence available suggests that they lower blood pressure at least as effectively as diuretics, beta-receptor blockers and other vasodilators. Nifedipine is as effective as hydralazine as a third-line drug. Both nifedipine and verapamil may be used alone as first-line therapy, but they are more expensive and probably cause more symptomatic side-effects than diuretics or beta-receptor blockers.