Drugs available for treatment of chronic hypertension and their dosages, adverse effects, and costs are listed in the tables. Treatment of hypertensive urgencies and emergencies is not discussed here.

in the US and their dosages, adverse effects, and costs are listed in the tables. Treatment of hypertensive urgencies and emergencies is not discussed here.

The FDA has approved Byvalson (Allergan), a fixed-dose combination of the beta blocker nebivolol (Bystolic) and the angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) valsartan (Diovan, and generics), for treatment of hypertension. It is the only combination product that contains nebivolol, and the first to combine a beta blocker with an ARB.

The FDA has approved a fixed-dose combination of the angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) azilsartan and the thiazide-like diuretic chlorthalidone as Edarbyclor (Takeda) for treatment of hypertension

A randomized, placebo-controlled trial evaluating the addition of the direct renin inhibitor aliskiren (Tekturna – Novartis) to an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) in 8606 patients with type 2 diabetes and renal impairment (ALTITUDE) was terminated prematurely by the manufacturer because the combined incidence of cardiovascular and renal events was higher in patients who received aliskiren than in those who received placebo.1

Combining two different types of drugs that block the renin angiotensin system in patients at high-risk for cardiovascular and renal events has been studied previously. Use of both the ACE inhibitor ramipril (Altace, and others) and the ARB telmisartan (Micardis) in hypertensive patients with diabetes or vascular disease (ONTARGET) did not improve cardiovascular or renal outcomes compared to use of either drug alone, and patients treated with both drugs had more hypotensive symptoms, syncope and renal dysfunction.2

Aliskiren is available alone (Tekturna) and in fixed-dose combinations with hydrochlorothiazide (Tekturna HCT), the calcium channel blocker amlodipine (Tekamlo), both hydrochorothiazide and amlodipine (Amturnide) and the ARB valsartan (Valturna) for treatment of hypertension.3 None of these products has been shown to improve clinical outcomes. Novartis is advising prescribers not to use aliskiren-containing products with an ACE inhibitor or an ARB in patients with diabetes.

1. Novartis.Novartis announces termination of ALTITUDE study with Rasilez/Tekturna in high-risk patients with diabetes and renal impairment. Available at www.novartis.com/newsroom/rasileztekturna-information-center/index.shtml. Accessed January 17, 2012.

2. S Yusuf et al. Telmisartan, ramipril, or both in patients at high risk for vascular events. N Engl J Med 2008; 358:1547.

3. Aliskiren/valsartan (Valturna) for hypertension. Med Lett Drugs Ther 2009; 51:94.

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Drugs available in the US for treatment of chronic hypertension, with their dosages and adverse effects, are listed in the tables that begin on page 2. Combination products are listed on page 8. Drugs for treatment of hypertensive emergencies are not discussed here. They were reviewed previously.

The angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) azilsartan medoxomil (Edarbi – Takeda) was recently approved by the FDA for oral treatment of hypertension, either alone or combined with other drugs. It is the eighth ARB approved for this indication.

The FDA has approved Twynsta (Boehringer Ingelheim), a fixed-dose combination of the calcium-channel blocker (CCB) amlodipine and the angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) telmisartan, for treatment of hypertension.

Drugs available in the US for treatment of chronic hypertension, with their dosages, adverse effects and costs, are listed in the tables that begin on page 2. Combination products are listed on page 9. Drugs for treatment of hypertensive emergencies are not discussed here. They were reviewed in Treatment Guidelines (volume 1, page 19, December 2002) and in The Medical Letter (volume 50, page 73, September 22, 2008).

Drugs available in the US for treatment of chronic hypertension, with their dosages, adverse effects and costs, are listed in the tables that begin on page 40. Combination products are listed on page 47. Drugs for treatment of hypertensive emergencies are not discussed here.

Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) are widely used as an alternative to angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors for treatment of hypertension because they lower blood pressure without inducing a cough. It has not been established that they provide the same cardiac benefits as ACE inhibitors. Recently, an editorial in the British Medical Journal suggested that ARBs may increase the risk of myocardial infarction.

The importance of adequate control of hypertension in preventing organ damage and death is well established, but the choice of drugs is still controversial. Three recent drug trials, one supporting initial therapy with a diuretic, the second favoring an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, and the third showing equivalence between a calcium-channel blocker and an angiotensin-receptor blocker (ARB) have intensified the debate.

The choice of drugs for treatment of chronic heart failure continues to evolve. It has become increasingly recognized that drugs used in heart failure produce beneficial effects through neurohormonal as well as hemodynamic mechanisms. The treatment of decompensated heart failure is not discussed here; drugs used for this indication were reviewed in Cardiovascular Drugs in the ICU, Treatment Guidelines from The Medical Letter 2002; 1:19.

Drugs available in the US for treatment of chronic hypertension, with their dosages, adverse effects and costs, are listed in the table that begins on page 35. Combination products are listed on page 39. Drugs for treatment of hypertensive emergencies were discussed in Treatment Guidelines volume 1, issue 4, page 19, December 2002.

Drugs available in the USA for treatment of chronic hypertension, their dosages and adverse affects are listed in the table and discussed in the text.

Perindopril, the tenth angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor to be marketed in the USA, and telmisartan and eprosartan, the fifth and sixth angiotensin receptor blockers, have recently become available for treatment of hypertension.

Drugs available in the USA for treatment of chronic hypertension, their dosages and adverse affects are listed in the table and discussed in the text.