Indapamide in ambulant treatment of hypertension: a comparative study with alpha-methyldopa.

Indapamide and methyldopa were compared in an open parallel study in patients with mild or moderate hypertension. Both drugs showed an antihypertensive effect significantly different from placebo but with indapamide the blood pressure response occurred sooner, after 2 weeks, as opposed to 4 weeks with methyldopa. Indapamide was better tolerated than methyldopa, producing fewer side effects.