Geriatric hypertension controversies: uses of newer agents

Elderly patients as a group have a less favorable response to beta blockers than younger patients do. However, there are patients who do respond, and associated conditions that can be treated with beta blockers (especially angina pectoris and postmyocardial infarction prophylaxis) are common in the elderly. The place of the calcium channel blockers in an antihypertensive regimen is not clear; they can be used alone, but their long-term efficacy is probably increased by concomitant diuretic treatment.