Material and methods The study population consisted of 230 patients (121 men and 109 women) receiving short-acting nifedipine (mean dose 30,1 mg daily) for at least 3 months in mono- or polytherapy, with SBP not exceeding 180 mm Hg and DBP 105 mm Hg. Nifedipine was replaced with amlodipine in a dose of 5 mg daily — the treatment was continued for 12 weeks. In those patients in whom DBP > 90 mm Hg and/or SBP > 160 mm Hg was found at 6 weeks, the dose of amlodipine was increased to 10 mg daily. The quality of life was evaluated twice: before and after amlodipine therapy using the Psychological General Well Being Index (PGWB). Additionally the patients evaluated tolerance and satisfaction with previous nifedipine and amlodipine therapy using a separate questionnaire.

Results The replacement of short-acting nifedipine with amlodipine resulted in blood pressure normalisation (BP < 140/90 mm Hg) in 61% of the patients (vs 19% on nifedipine) and a significant improvement of quality of life in 83% of patients. After 12-week amlodipine treatment DBP below 90 mm Hg was achieved in 92% of the patients (vs. 47% on nifedipine). SBP decrease was greater after amlodipine in women than in men. The total index of the PGWB improved significantly in both sexes (p < 0,01) after 12 weeks on amlodipine. The highest quality of life was observed in patients with the lowest BP after amlodipine and in those who all the time received amlodipine 5 mg daily. The responders ranked amlodipine tolerance significantly higher than nifedipine and they were satisfied more with amlodipine than during previous treatment with nifedipine.

Conclusion The replacement of short-acting nifedipine with amlodipine provides a better control of arterial BP and improves significantly the quality of life, irrespective of sex, age, duration and severity of hypertension as well as the number of hypotensive drugs administered.