An evaluation of the effect on resting and exercise blood pressure of some first line treatments in hypertension.

Eighteen patients with idiopathic hypertension were studied to assess the anti-hypertensive control, both at rest and during exercise of increasing doses of hydrochlorothiazide, metoprolol and a combination of hydrochlorothiazide and metoprolol. Each active treatment period was given for four weeks with an intervening four week placebo period, with assessments made at 2 to 4 hours and 22 to 24 hours following tablet intake. The results show that the resting systolic and diastolic values for all active treatment periods were significantly different from placebo. During exercise, the systolic blood pressure levels were significantly reduced by all active treatments with the greatest overall reduction being achieved by either metoprolol or the metoprolol-hydrochlorothiazide combination. However, the exercise induced increase in systolic blood pressure was reduced by approximately 25% by both metoprolol and the combination product, when compared to placebo, but not by the diuretic alone.