The approval is based on data from two clinical trials involving more than 1,200 patients with moderate or severe high blood pressure. In the trials, Avalide (irbesartan-hydrochlorothiazide) -treated patients experienced greater reductions in blood pressure compared to patients treated with either irbesartan 150mg monotherapy, or hydrochlorothiazide 12.5mg monotherapy.
Avalide may be used in appropriate patients whose blood pressure is not adequately controlled on monotherapy and now can be used as initial therapy in appropriate patients who are likely to need multiple drugs to achieve their blood pressure goals.
Joel Neutel, professor of medicine, University of California in Irvine, said: “Guidelines support initial combination therapy for severe hypertension based on the need to lower blood pressure within weeks rather than months. Now with Avapro (irbesartan) and Avalide physicians have more therapeutic options to treat mild, moderate and severe hypertension.”