Carvedilol vs labetalol in treating mild to moderate essential hypertension in 399 patients

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of carvedilol and labetalol in treating essential hypertension. METHODS: Three hundred and ninety-nine patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension (M 228, F 171, age; 53 a +- s 9 a) were studied. Two hundred Patients received Carvedilol (n = 100, 10 mg, po, bid) and labetalol (n = 100, 50 mg, po bid) in a single blind randomized parallel design. Another 199 patients received carvedilol in open trial, 10-20 mg, po, bid for 4 wk and among them 49 patients who succeed to response to carvedilol treatment continued up to 6 mo, the doses of Carvedilol and labetalol were (remained as before or increased) from 10-20 mg and 50-100 mg, po, bid, respectively after 2 wk treatment according to the blood pressure. RESULTS: The blood pressure and heart rate of 200 Patients in a single blind randomized parallel-design were significanty decreasing since 1 wk after receiving hath carvedilol and labetalol and the response rateS (defined as a decrease in sitting DBP to