Hydrochlorothiazide in combination with potassium-sparing agents in the treatment of hypertension

Summary Twenty patients with mild to moderate hypertension participated in a single-blind crossover comparison of treatment with 25 mg hydrochlorothiazide plus 50 mg triamterene and 50 mg hydrochlorothiazide plus 5 mg amiloride in once-daily dosage regimens. After a 2-week run-in period without treatment, patients were allocated at random to receive one or other of the drug combinations, 1 to 2 tablets per day for 8 weeks, and were then crossed over after a 4-week wash-out period to the alternative treatment for a further 8 weeks. Blood pressure was monitored at monthly intervals. The results showed that both treatments effectively controlled blood pressure, regardless of the order in which they were given, and there was no significant difference in the number of medical adverse events or deviations from normal laboratory results recorded during either treatment.