[Dose-effectiveness relationship of cicletanine at short-term in moderately to severely hypertensive patients]

In this double-blind trial, four-group study the effectiveness and safety of cicletanine in doses of 100 mg/day (n = 30, two of whom were excluded), 150 mg/day (n = 30) or 200 mg/day (n = 28, one of whom was excluded) were studied in patients with moderate or severe arterial hypertension (DBP greater than 95 mmHg). In patients with moderate hypertension (DBP less than 120 mmHg), the three dosage levels resulted in normalization of DBP (less than 95 mmHg) in 80 to 85 p. 100 of the cases, but in those with severe hypertension only doses of 150 and 200 mg/day were effective in significantly reducing DBP in 50 to 65 p. 100 of the cases. There was an important reduction of symptoms (palpitations, vertigo, headache) with all three doses, but only the 200 mg dose reduced dyspnoea. The drug was well tolerated both clinically and biochemically. In patients with severe hypertension, cicletanine 150 mg/day seems to be useful in short-term treatment, while in patients with moderate hypertension doses of 150 or 200 mg/day do not seem to be necessary, even in short-term treatment.