Lacidipine in the Treatment of Arterial Hypertension

Abstract

The calcium antagonists are regarded as one of the main class of drugs used for current treatment of hypertension. In the last decade, the efficacy and safety of long lasting calcium antagonists, including lacidipine, as antihypertensive agents has been well documented. Lacidipine has been proven to be a well tolerated and effective antihypertensive drug that can be administered once daily. It exhibits a high selectivity for the vasculature and is characterised by gradual onset and long duration of action. Lacidipine is effective in hypertensive patients with elevated serum lipids, diabets mellitus, in elderly patients and coexisting left ventricular hypertrophy. It is postulated that lacidipine may have potential antiatherosclerotic effects.