A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS AND TOLERABILITY PROFILE OF CILNIDIPINE VERSUS AMLODIPINE IN MILD TO MODERATE ESSENTIAL HYPERTENSION

High Blood pressure or hypertension is one of the most ubiquitous yet nettle some medical problems that physician and health care provider face in the office. In present study amlodipine and cilnidipine have been selected to evaluate and compare their efficacy and tolerability in mild to moderate essential hypertension. 60 patients of uncomplicated mild to moderate essential hypertension were evaluated for clinical efficacy, effect on biochemical parameters and side effects in 6 weeks of treatment. They were divided into 2 groups of 30 patients each, making a total of 60 patients. First group of 30 patients was given cilnidipine 5-20 mg/day and second group of 30 patients was given amlodipine in dose of 5-10 mg/day and dose was adjusted according to control of blood pressure. In the present study, it was clearly evident that cilnidipine and amlodipine both are effective antihypertensive drugs. Both the drugs were instrumental in decreasing systolic blood pressure significantly (p<0.05).. Both the drugs also decreased the diastolic blood pressure significantly (p<0.05). There was no significant change in heart rate with cilnidipine therapy (p<0.05).. With amlodipine therapy there was significant rise in heart rate (p<0.05). The inhibitory effect on the N-type Ca²⁺ channel may bestow an additional clinical advantage for the treatment of hypertension, such as suppression of reflex tachycardia.