Diuretic and cardiovascular effects of indapamide in hypertensive subjects: a dose-response curve

In a single-blind, placebo-controlled study, the effects were evaluated of increasing doses of indapamide (1.0, 2.5 and 5.0 mg/day, each dose for 4 weeks) on volume and haemodynamic status of 10 hypertensive subjects. Body weight showed a decrease of 0.5 kg at the 1 mg dose, of 1.0 kg at the 2.5 mg dose and no further decrease at 5 mg. Plasma volume did not change. Mean arterial pressure decrease in 8 subjects by about 20 mmHg; 2 patients were classified as 'non-responders'. The decrease in blood pressure was accompanied by a reduction in total peripheral resistance and no change in cardiac output. LV end-diastolic volume decreased by about 20 ml. These results suggest that indapamide not only has a diuretic effect, but also acts as a veno-arterial vasodilator.