Very Low-Dose Quadruple-Drug Therapy for Hypertension is Effective

But this very small study with limited follow-up requires verification.

Around the world, hypertension control rates are poor. Most patients are treated with monotherapy, although combination therapy is more efficacious. These authors aimed to assess whether treating patients with ultra-low-dose combination therapy improves blood pressure control.

The placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized, crossover trial (#ACTRN12614001057673) tested the efficacy of a “quadpill” — a single capsule containing four medications, each at quarter-dose strength (irbesartan, 37.5 mg; amlodipine, 1.25 mg; hydrochlorothiazide, 6.25 mg; atenolol, 12.5 mg). The 21 patients received quadpill or matching placebo for 4 weeks, a 2-week washout, and then the other treatment for another 4 weeks (mean age, 58; mean baseline office blood p…

Reviewing Author

Karol E. Watson, MD, PhD, FACC

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardBoehringer Ingelheim; Amgen; Novartis; Lilly; Amarin

Speaker’s BureauBoehringer Ingelheim

Grant/Research SupportNIH

Editorial BoardsCirculation (Associate Editor)