Use of the the combination labetalol plus chlorthalidone in essential arterial hypertension therapy.

Eleven patients suffering from WHO stage II essential arterial hypertension were treated with the combination of labetalol plus chlorthalidone in the reciprocal ratio of 10:1 in the form of once-a-day administration in the morning. The dosage was individualized on the basis of hypotensive response and side effects until an acceptable blood pressure was achieved. The duration of the treatment was 45 days with blood pressure measurements after 7, 15, and 45 days. By the end of the first week of therapy significant reductions had already been obtained in systolic arterial pressure (down from 181 +/- 24 to 157 +/- 9 mmHg, P less than 0.01) and diastolic arterial pressure (down from 110 +/- 7 to 96 +/- 7 mmHg, P less than 0.01), reductions which were also maintained over time. The mean dosage at the time of the final measurement was 150 mg (136 mg labetalol and 14 mg chlorthalidone). In no case were orthostatic hypotension phenomena observed, and the side effects proved modest without requiring suspension of the therapy. Because of the simplification of the therapy, patient compliance was good.