Once-daily CR carvedilol provides continuous 24h BP reduction

Once-daily controlled-release (CR) carvedilol [Coreg CR] is an effective antihypertensive agent that provides continuous 24 hour BP reduction, according to a randomised, double-blind, multicentre study presented at the 21st Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Society of Hypertension (ASH) [New York, US; May 2006]. The study showed that in patients with essential hypertension, once-daily CR carvedilol at doses of 20mg, 40mg or 80mg significantly reduced both systolic and diastolic BP over a full 24-hour dosing interval at 6 weeks, compared with placebo. Treatment with CR carvedilol was well tolerated; no significant difference was observed in the incidence of adverse events between patients receiving CR carvedilol and placebo.