Captopril and hydrochlorthiazide--a safe antihypertensive for use in general practice?

The combination of captopril and hydrochlorthiazide was assessed in 15 hypertensive patients in a general practice setting. The first aim was to determine whether the fall in blood pressure, noted after the first dose of an ACE inhibitor given alone, became unacceptable when the drug was given with a diuretic. The second aim was to assess the impact of the ACE inhibitor on the biochemical abnormalities associated with thiazide diuretic therapy. The drug combination markedly reduced blood pressure but not below 110 systolic after the first dose. In the long-term the treatment significantly lowered blood pressure but did not produce any significant or clinically relevant changes in serum chemistry.