Efficacy and tolerability of lisinopril compared with extended release felodipine in patients with essential hypertension. Danish Cooperative Study Group.

The antihypertensive effects of lisinopril 10-20 mg once daily and felodipine (extended release formulation) 5-10 mg once daily were compared in a double-blind, parallel group study of eight weeks duration involving 219 patients with mild to moderate hypertension. On lisinopril treatment sitting blood pressure fell from 166.3/102.9 +/- 17.5/5.8 mmHg to 146.7/89.7 +/- 19.5/8.7 mmHg and on felodipine blood pressure fell from 166.7/103.3 +/- 18.3/5.4 mmHg to 153.6/92.3 +/- 15.9/7.9 mmHg. The decreases in sitting systolic and diastolic blood pressures were significantly greater on lisinopril than on felodipine treatment (p = 0.019 and p = 0.033). A subgroup analysis in elderly patients (age > or = 65 years) showed that lisinopril and felodipine were equally effective in reducing blood pressure. In young subjects (age < 65 years) felodipine treatment lowered systolic blood pressure less than did lisinopril treatment (p = 0.001). Lisinopril was better tolerated than felodipine. On lisinopril treatment, reports of headache and dizziness were reduced while that of cough increased. On felodipine treatment, dizziness was reduced but reports of flushing and oedema were increased. The results show a better antihypertensive effect and better tolerability for lisinopril compared with extended release felodipine.