Antihypertensive and metabolic effects of a combination of hydrochlorothiazide and amiloride

A combination of hydrochlorothiazide 50 mg and amiloride 5 mg (HTZ + AMl) was administered twice daily for 12 weeks to 18 hypertensive patients, as a monotherapy. There was a statistically and clinically significant decrease in the mean blood pressure level throughout the treatment period. Significant steady or random changes in blood variables included decreases in chloride, magnesium and bilirubin levels and increases in sodium, calcium, phosphorus, creatinine, triglycerides, total protein, albumin, alkaline phosphatase and SGPT levels, Blood urea nitrogen values changed biphasically. Most of these statistically significant metabolic changes had no clinical relevance. The dosage problem with HTZ + AMl is discussed.