A multi-centre, placebo controlled comparative study between 200 mg and 400 mg celiprolol in patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension.

A two-centre, double-blind, placebo controlled, randomized 3-way crossover study was undertaken to assess the efficacy, tolerability and safety of celiprolol in mild to moderate essential hypertension. A 4-week single-blind placebo run-in/screening period, during which no antihypertensive medication was given, was followed by 3 consecutive 4-week treatment periods with placebo or celiprolol (200 mg or 400 mg daily). At the end of the 4-week placebo run-in/screening period, 26 hospital out-patients with a seated mean blood pressure (systolic/diastolic) of 161.4/101.7 mmHg and a mean pulse rate of 75 beats/min entered the double-blind crossover phase of the study. Results showed that there was no significant difference in seated mean systolic or diastolic blood pressure between 200 mg celiprolol daily (149.2/92.3 mmHg) and 400 mg celiprolol daily (149.1/92.5 mmHg). However, mean seated systolic and diastolic blood pressures were significantly (p less than 0.05) lower on celiprolol than on placebo (157.1/98.2 mmHg). Neither dose of celiprolol had a significant effect on seated pulse rate. No patient was withdrawn due to an adverse event and no laboratory assessment outside the normal range was reported to be of any clinical significance. It is concluded that oral celiprolol, 200 mg or 400 mg daily, is effective and well tolerated for controlling mild to moderate essential hypertension. Since both doses had very similar effects on blood pressure there is no advantage in this group of patients for the 400 mg daily dose of celiprolol.