USE OF ATENOLOL AND OLMESARTAN AS AN ADD-ON THERAPY WITH CALCIUM CHANNEL BLOCKER IN HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS FOR HYPERTENSION

Background: Management of hypertension in hemodialysis patients was never the same in all and tends to involve a various classes of drugs with respect to their disease conditions, response to drug therapy, medication adherence, and many more. Atenolol and Olmesartan can be used as add-on therapy in managing hypertension with calcium channel blockers. Methodology: Blood pressure was monitored using Continous Ambulatory Blood pressure monitoring for 24 h and patients with blood pressure above 160 mm Hg and who are free from Atenolol or Olmesartan were included in the study. They were given with Atenolol or Olmesartan as an add-on drug to the existing other class of antihypertensive drugs. After a period of 2 weeks, their 24 h ambulatory blood pressure was measured again. A comparative data of both the blood pressure data was established. Results: The overall 24 hours ambulatory systolic blood pressure dropped from 179.32 ± 10.823 to 168.36 ± 13.991, and overall diastolic pressure dropped from 90.72 ± 13.743 to 81.32 ± 12.750. Similarly, the mean heart rate decreased from 83.00 ± 6.198 to 77.48 ± 6.795. In addition to it, Olmesartan was found to be effective in lowering blood pressure when compared to Atenolol. Conclusion: Atenolol and Olmesartan can be effectively used as add-on therapy on hemodialysis patients with calcium channel blockers to control hypertension. Appropriate monitoring and titration of Atenolol and Olmesartan doses can help in managing blood pressure and cardiac comorbidities.