Once daily administration of low-dose xipamide: a long-term study in mild to moderate hypertension

The anti-hypertensive effects of xipamide in doses of 5-20 mg once daily were studied in a multicenter study. Three general practitioners recruited 74 patients with uncomplicated hypertension. After a run-in period, patients entered a dose-ranging study and were followed for an average period of 10.4 months. Supine and standing blood pressures were significantly decreased (22.2/14 and 21/14 mmHg) during xipamide therapy with average daily dose of 12.2 mg. Serum potassium values dropped from 4.43 +/- 0.06 to 3.96 +/- 0.5 mEq/l, and serum uric acid increased from 5.47 +/- 0.06 to 6.04 +/- 0.18 mg%. In a second part 47 patients entered a double-blind, crossover study of placebo. Their optimum xipamide doses confirmed that in the majority of patients with mild to moderate hypertension xipamide in doses lower than 20 mg is effective in lowering blood pressure. The study further confirmed that xipamide exerted its anti-hypertensive effects for at least 24 h.