Efficacy and safety of lasilactone, a new combination diuretic, in essential hypertension

1. Lasilactone, a new combination diuretic (furosemide 20 mg and spironolactone 50 mg) was evaluated in 30 patients with mild-to-moderate essential hypertension. Each patient received one capsule of lasilactone daily. 2. Significant changes in BP were observed 1 week after initiation of therapy and were sustained during the observation period of 1 year. 3. Supine and standing BP fell from 148.6 +/- 2.6/102.1 +/- 1.9 to 120.8 +/- 1.4/91.7 +/- 1.2 and from 154.4 +/- 2.1/106.1 +/- 1.6 to 125.7 +/- 2.2/90.7 +/- 1.5 mm Hg respectively. 4. There were no changes in the concentrations of plasma glucose, lipids, uric acid and potassium. On the other hand, levels of plasma renin activity rose from 0.69 +/- 0.06 to 3.95 +/- 0.47 ng/ml/hr and urinary aldosterone excretory rate increased from 9.6 +/- 1.6 to 42.8 +/- 4.2 micrograms/day. 5. This study suggests that addition of spironolactone to furosemide improves the hypotensive potency and minimizes the metabolic and electrolyte alterations of the latter.