The Use of Carvedilol in Elderly Hypertensive Patients

Carvedilol, a beta-blocking drug with vasodilator activity, has been used in 4 studies in 107 elderly patients with essential hypertension and has reduced blood pressure effectively. In the first study the pharmacokinetics and clinical response were compared between 21 patients greater than 65 years of age and 8 patients aged 35-50 years). The peak blood levels, time to maximal concentration, area under the curve, half-life and trough level of the drug with chronic administration did not differ. The clinical responses to the drug were similar, with a greater fall in systolic blood pressure in the older group. However the initial systolic blood pressure in the older group was higher. Carvedilol was compared with metoprolol, pindolol and nitrendipine in elderly patients. The responses to carvedilol were at least equal to those obtained with the other drugs. Control was achieved in the three studies with once-daily therapy. There was no significant postural hypotensive effect. A feature of all studies was the large number of patients who responded to carvedilol. The side-effect profile of the drug was acceptable; headache and dizziness were more common than with placebo or the comparison drugs and were frequently associated. There were no adverse biochemical effects and the lipid profile was not altered. Carvedilol is an effective antihypertensive drug that lowers blood pressure equally well in the young and the old.