SAFE AND EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT OF HYPERTENSION WITH FIXED‐DOSE COMBINATION THERAPY: FOCUS ON LOSARTAN PLUS HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE

Abstract

SUMMARY Treatment of hypertensive patients with fixed‐dose combination therapy consisting of losartan and hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) has several potential benefits over monotherapy with each of the individual components: more effective blood pressure control, a reduction in the likelihood of adverse effects, and facilitation of patients staying on therapy due to a simple once‐daily regimen. Losartan plus HCTZ fixed‐dose combination therapy lowers blood pressure in mild to moderate or severe hypertensive patients to a level comparable with other classes of antihypertensive drugs in combination with HCTZ. Fixed‐dose combination therapy with losartan plus HCTZ is therefore an excellent choice for hypertensive patients in whom combination therapy is necessary to achieve additional blood pressure reductions. (Int J Clin Pract 2000; 54(1): 48‐54)