The antihypertensive effect of verapamil on twice and thrice daily dose regimens. A randomized, double-blind, crossover trial.

The antihypertensive effect of verapamil 200 mg b.i.d. was compared with that of verapamil 120 mg t.i.d. in a double-blind crossover study of eight out-patients with essential hypertension. The mean supine blood pressure measured before the morning dose was 150/87 mm Hg in patients treated with verapamil 200 mg b.i.d. and 151/87 mm Hg in those treated with verapamil 120 mg t.i.d. The recently reported prolonged half-life and accumulation of verapamil during steady-state conditions explains the lasting antihypertensive effect with the twice-daily dose regimen. Such a twice daily dose regimen is presumed to be more convenient to the patients and thus improve their compliance.