Comparative effects of telmisartan in the treatment of hypertension

Three separate randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, 12-week trials compared telmisartan with enalapril, lisinopril, and amlodipine for treating mild to moderate hypertension. Telmisartan 80 mg was associated with a significantly greater mean decrease in trough systolic and diastolic blood pressure than enalapril 20 mg (p<0.05). Mean decreases in trough systolic and diastolic blood pressure with telmisartan (40, 80, and 160 mg) and lisinopril (10, 20, and 40 mg) were similar. Telmisartan (40, 80, and 120 mg) provided greater decreases in mean hourly systolic and diastolic blood pressure throughout the 24-hour dosing interval, including the last 4 hours of the dosing period, than amlodipine (5 and 10 mg). Telmisartan was associated with a lower incidence of treatment-related cough than lisinopril and enalapril and less treatment-related angioedema than amlodipine. These data suggest that for treating mild to moderate hypertension, telmisartan has efficacy similar to lisinopril, greater efficacy than enalapril and amlodipine throughout the 24-hour dosing interval, and better tolerability than these angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and amlodipine.