THRICE-DAILY BLOOD-PRESSURE READINGS ON SOTALOL IN THE TREATMENT OF HYPERTENSION - ONCE-DAILY VERSUS TWICE-DAILY REGIMEN

Thirty patients with mild to severe essential hypertension satisfactorily controlled by twice-daily sotalol therapy entered a double-blind, crossover study comparing the efficacy, tolerability and safety of their usual twice-daily sotalol administration with the same dosage given once daily. Each double-blind period extended 8 wk, during the last week of which blood pressure and pulse rate were recorded by a nurse 3 times daily on alternate days during in the patients'' usual living conditions. Plasma sotalol concentration was measured before the morning dosage of sotalol. No statistically significant differences in the parameters were found between once- and twice-daily sotalol administration using sotalol in daily dosages from 80-320 mg. All patients concluded the trial, and no increase in side effects was noted during the once-daily period.