Lacidipine and circadian variation in blood pressure: considerations for therapy

The circadian rhythm of blood pressure has been shown to be an accurate and repeatable method of characterizing blood pressure over each 24-h period, and probably provides the best index of cardiovascular risk. Many studies have confirmed that these curves can be used to define accurately the duration and degree of antihypertensive effect of drugs, and are not influenced by the administration of placebo. Furthermore, these curves represent an ideal method for testing the efficacy of once-daily drugs. Lacidipine has been tested against these curves in 12 hypertensive patients, and has been shown to be an effective antihypertensive agent throughout the day, with a 24-h duration of action after a single oral dose and without reflex tachycardia.