Labetalol and nifedipine in the management of essential hypertension.

Antihypertensive effects of labetalol and nifedipine were evaluated in a double blind cross over trial in ambulatory patients with moderately severe hypertension (mean diastolic BP 101.2 +/- 1.78 mm Hg, 105 +/- 2.15 mm Hg respectively and mean systolic BP 164.2 +/- 4.2 mm Hg and 171.4 +/- 5.82 mm Hg respectively in each group of 10 patients). The effect of labetalol over the systolic and diastolic BP was highly significant (p less than 0.01). The effects of nifedipine on systolic and diastolic BP were also significant but effects on diastolic BP was highly significant (p less than 0.01). In cross over study it was seen that nifedipine was not much superior in lowering the systolic BP whereas diastolic BP was lowered to a significant level (p less than 0.05) as compared to labetalol.