[The effect of diltiazem and nifedipine in persons with essential hypertension]

After a two-week placebo period, 40 patients were randomly divided into two groups in a six-week double blind parallel study. Group A received diltiazem (Cortiazem retard, Hemofarm) 90 mg twice daily and group B nifedipine 10 mg three times daily. Blood pressure and heart rate were measured at the end of weeks 2, 5 and 8 at rest, in the supine and standing positions and during ergometric exercise of 50, 75 and 100 wattes. Blood pressure at rest, in the supine position, decreased comparably in both groups. The response rate (reduction in diastolic blood pressure of at least 10 mmHg or less than or equal to 90 mmHg) was 83% in the diltiazem group and 80% in the nifedipine group. Exercise blood pressure was also comparable in both groups. Resting heart rate was unchanged in the diltiazem, whereas in the nifedipine group a tendency to increase was observed. The pressure rate product significantly decreased (p less than 0.05) in the diltiazem only in exercise of 100 W and increased slightly in the nifedipine group. There were two drop-outs in the nifedipine group due to side effects and none in the diltiazem group.