Comparison of nicardipine and felodipine in the treatment of elderly hypentensive patients

Objective To investigate the hypotensor effect of nicardipine and compare with that of felodipine.Methods 42 cases of grades elderly hypertensive patients were divided evenly into 2 groups.After one-week′s clearout period,patients of group A(n=21)received felodipine 10mg orally qd.while patients of group B(n=21)received felodipine 5mg orally qd.During 4 week′s treatment,blood pressure,heart rate,liver and kidney functions,side effects and other data of patients were measured and recorded regularly.Results Both nicardipine and felodipine exhibited significant effects in reducing blood pressure(P0.05)and pulse pressure(P0.05).Moreover,no significant difference was found betwen nicardipine and felodipine in the reduction of blood pressure(P0.05).No difference was observed in heart rate before and after treatment in both groups(P0.05).No significant difference was observed in both groups in biochemical parameters before and after treatment(P0.05),which indicates that patients tolerated both medicines well and there were only slight sode-effects during treatment.Conclusion Nicardipine is effective and safe in treating elderly hypertensive patents.