Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 2, 2026

Improved Renal Denervation Mitigated Hypertension Induced by Angiotensin II Infusion
Published on: May 26, 2022
Barnidipine monotherapy and combination therapy in older patients with essential hypertension: a long-term study
Insights
Barnidipine effectively lowers blood pressure in elderly patients with hypertension. This study found barnidipine monotherapy or combination therapy safe and effective for long-term hypertension management in individuals over 75.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Clinical Pharmacology
Background:
- Essential hypertension is a prevalent condition in elderly populations.
- Effective and safe antihypertensive treatments are crucial for managing cardiovascular risk in older adults.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the long-term (2-year) safety and efficacy of barnidipine in patients aged 75 years and older with essential hypertension.
- To assess barnidipine's effectiveness as monotherapy and in combination with other antihypertensives.
Main Methods:
- An open-label, dose-titration, multicentre study involving 236 elderly patients.
- Barnidipine was initiated at 10 mg daily, with titration to 20 mg if needed. ACE inhibitors or diuretics were added as necessary.
- Efficacy was measured by changes in sitting diastolic blood pressure (DBP).
Main Results:
- An overall response rate of 84.1% was achieved.
- Mean sitting DBP decreased by 18.4 mmHg from baseline.
- Barnidipine monotherapy was used in 74% of patients; 37.4% experienced drug-related adverse events.
Conclusions:
- Barnidipine is safe and effective for long-term treatment of essential hypertension in elderly patients.
- Barnidipine can be used as monotherapy or in combination with ACE inhibitors or diuretics.
- The safety profile is acceptable, with most adverse events related to comorbidities common in the elderly.
Abstract:
The long-term (2 year) safety and efficacy of barnidipine was assessed in an open-label, dose-titration, multicentre study of 236 patients aged > or = 75 years with a sitting diastolic blood pressure (DBP) > or = 95 mmHg. All eligible patients started treatment with barnidipine 10 mg once daily. After at least 4 weeks treatment, the dose of barnidipine was titrated upwards to 20 mg daily in patients who did not achieve normalisation of blood pressure (sitting DBP < 90 mmHg). After at least another 4 weeks of treatment an ACE inhibitor or diuretic was added if necessary. Barnidipine monotherapy was the final treatment in 74% of patients in the ITT population (50% barnidipine 10 mg, 24% barnidipine 20 mg). The overall response rate was 84.1% at endpoint. Overall mean sitting DBP decreased by 18.4 mmHg from 102.1 mmHg at baseline to 83.7 mmHg at endpoint. Although a total of 82.2% of patients reported at least one adverse event, only 37.4% of patients experienced an adverse event that was possibly or probably related to the study medication. Many patients experienced adverse events associated with co-existing diseases common in older people. It can be concluded that barnidipine as monotherapy or in combination with ACE inhibitors or diuretics is safe and effective in older patients with essential hypertension.
Related Concept Videos
Heart Failure Drugs: Inhibitors of Renin-Angiotensin System
Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients
Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Metabolism
Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Excretion
Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age
Hypertension IV: Drug Therapy and Lifestyle Modifications