Ketanserin Interactions with Nifedipine and Captopril: Two Italian Cross over Trials

Abstract

The aims of the study were to evaluate whether the combination of Ketanserin with either Nifedipine SR or Captopril exerts an additive antihypertensive effect as compared to single drug treatment. In each trial 12 uncomplicated, moderately essential hypertensives received (following a randomized, double-blind cross-over design) Ketanserin (40 mg b.i.d.), Nifedipine SR (20 mg b.i.d.) or Captopril (50 mg b.i.d.), the combination of Ketanserin with Nifedipine or Captopril, given at the same dosage, and the corresponding placebo, each treatment being given for 1 month. In the Ketanserin - Nifedipine trial, Ketanserin and Nifedipine alone and in combination significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the mean blood pressure in comparison to the randomized placebo. However, the reduction of the mean blood pressure, as well as the percentage of responder and normalized patients (which under Nifedipine were consistently but not significantly greater than those under Ketanserin) did not differ from those under the combination of the two drugs.