Comparison of Nebivolol Monotherapy Versus Nebivolol in Combination With Other Antihypertensive Therapies for the Treatment of Hypertension

Nebivolol is a novel, β1 -adrenergic receptor blocker with vasodilatory properties mediated through the activation of the l -arginine/nitric oxide pathway. Short-term randomized clinical trials have demonstrated that nebivolol has antihypertensive efficacy benefits comparable to other β blockers but with a favorable safety and tolerability profile. The long-term safety and efficacy results of oral nebivolol (5, 10, or 20 mg) 1 time/day, as monotherapy or in combination with other antihypertensive agents, were assessed in a double-blind, multicenter, 9-month extension study of 3 phase III, double-blind, 3-month trials in patients with stage I to II hypertension (mean sitting diastolic blood pressures [BPs] ≥95 and ≤109 mm Hg). Patients were eligible for entry if they had completed 1 of 3 feeder trials of nebivolol monotherapy (1.25 to 40 mg) 1 time/day. Dose titration and use of additional antihypertensive agents were used to achieve a diastolic BP goal of