Clinical experience with nadolol in Nigerian patients with essential hypertension

Response to Nadolol (Corgard) tablets has been studied in newly diagnosed Nigerian patients with essential hypertension attending the hypertension clinic of the University College Hospital, Ibadan. 21 out of 26 recruited patients completed the study. The mean age was 47.3 +/- 9.5 SD years. The mean supine systolic blood pressure post placebo was 177.6 +/- 13.3 SD mm Hg, while the diastolic blood pressure was 101.7 +/- 11.7 SD mm Hg. After 8 weeks, the mean readings were 126.2 +/- 11.2 SD mm Hg supine systolic and 81 +/- 8.9SD mm Hg supine diastolic. In the erect position, the corresponding mean readings post placebo and at 8 weeks 168.8 +/- 21.9 SD mm Hg and 125.2 +/- 15.4 SD mm Hg systolic, and 107.4 +/- 12.2 SD mm Hg and 86 +/- 8 SD mm Hg diastolic respectively. There was a significant difference (P less than .001) between the mean readings post placebo and at 8 weeks in both systolic and diastolic blood pressures in the supine and erect positions). The mean supine pulse rate per minute post placebo was 80 +/- 7, and at 8 weeks 70 +/- 3. There was a significant difference (P less than .001) between the two pulse rates. 2 of the 26 patients were taken off the trial at 4 weeks because of poor response, but were included in the determination of effectiveness, toleration and side effects. Nadolol was found highly effective in 15 patients (65.2%) moderately effective in 6 patients (26%) and ineffective in 2 patients (8.6%). Side effects were not a problem in this study and toleration was excellent in most cases.