Telmisartan in the treatment of hypertension.

Background: Telmisartan is an orally active angiotensin II receptor antagonist prescribed once daily.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of telmisartan on blood pressure control, and on other end points, when given as monotherapy or in combination.

Methods: Review of published literature.

Results: Telmisartan produces more effective control of blood pressure over 24 h, especially in the last 6 h of the dosing interval, compared with other antihypertensive agents. It also possesses pleiotrophic effects on lipid and glucose metabolism, but lacks evidence of efficacy in reducing vascular events.

Conclusions: Clinical outcome trials expected to report in 2008 will provide hard end points that may demonstrate advantages of telmisartan as monotherapy, or in combination with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, for managing hypertension.