Noninvasive blood pressure monitoring evaluation of verapamil slow-release 240-mg antihypertensive effectiveness

The aim of our study was to evaluate the antihypertensive effectiveness of verapamil slow-release (SR), administered once a day. We studied 11 patients, 7 male and 4 female, with an average age of 53.6 +/- 12.86 years, who had essential hypertension. After a drug washout period of at least 15 days, placebo was administered (one tablet per day), and then patients received verapamil SR 240 mg/day at 8:00 a.m. for at least 2 weeks. At the end of the washout, placebo, and active drug treatment periods we performed ambulatory intermittent blood pressure monitoring for 24 h using a Squibb Spacelabs pressurometer. After verapamil treatment, in comparison to placebo, a significant reduction of syst…