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| Authors | A Serracino Inglott L M Azzopardi M Zarb Adami V Azzopardi |
| Abstract | Introduction: The extent of lowering of blood pressure with antihypertensive agents may vary depending on the time of administration of antihypertensive drugs. Method: A total of 29 patients (mean age 52 years, range 36-63 years, 15 males, 14 females) diagnosed with primary hypertension were included in the study. Of these, 25 were receiving atenolol 100mg once daily (treatment group) and 4 patients were not receiving any antihypertensive agents (control group). Treatment patients were first instructed to take atenolol in the morning for five days and then were asked to cross over to evening administration for another five days. Blood pressure was monitored using an ambulatory blood pressure monitor for 24 hours. Results: The blood pressure circadian pattern was preserved with atenolol when the drug was administered in the morning and even when the drug was administered in the evening. Evening administration of atenolol produced a statistically significant lower diastolic blood pressure (p<0.05) when compared to diastolic blood pressure following administration of atenolol in the morning. Comparison of blood pressure of treatment group patients and control group patients showed that blood pressure was relatively lower for treated patients compared to control patients particularly the diastolic blood pressure (p<0.05) of both morning and evening administration. Conclusion: The findings suggest that administration of atenolol at different times of the day may exert a different effect on blood pressure levels and profiles. Administration of atenolol in the evening may result in a better control of hypertension. |
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| Journal | Malta Medical Journal |
| Volume | 15 Issue 1-2/suppl. 2003 |
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| Key words | atenolol, hypertension, pharmacy, chronopharmacology |