Therapeutic Research

Abstract

Purpose:To investigate the clinical efficacy of the amlodipine/atorvastatin combination tablet(Caduet combination tablet). Methods:In patients with hypertension complicated with dyslipidemia, the antihypertensive drug/HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor(statin)was switched to the Caduet combination tablet. Then, we examined the effects of this switch on the blood pressure and lipid levels and conducted an attitude survey concerning this combination tablet using a questionnaire. Results:The switch from the antihypertensive drug to Caduet combination tablet brought about a significant reduction in both clinical and home blood pressures. The patients switching from amlodipine also showed a significant reduction in the blood pressure, as well as a trend toward a reduction in the clinical diastolic blood pressure. For lipid levels, there was a significant improvement in the total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-C, LDL/HDL ratio, nonHDL-C, and HDL-C. The patients switching from a strong statin also including atorvastatin showed a trend toward a reduction in LDL-C, the LDL/HDL ratio, and non HDL-C. The results from a questionnaire suggested that many patients(80.4%)took a favorable view of the switch to the combination tablet;the combination tablet may help improve drug adherence. Discussions:The switch from the antihypertensive drug and statin to the Caduetcombination tablet brought about an improvement in therapeutic efficacy. Particularly, the patients switching from amlodipine or a strong statin also showed a significant reduction in blood pressure and a trend toward a reduction in lipid levels, presumably due to an improvement of drug adherence. Thus, besides an additive effect of both drugs constituting this combination tablet, the clinical benefit was identified.