Authors: Egan CG, Pontremoli R
Even with the availability of novel and efficacious antihypertensive agents, an insufficient number of hypertensive patients achieve their desired blood pressure (BP) target. This failure is partly due to the fact that many patients do not strictly adhere to their drug therapy and/or they report the presence of adverse effects. Traditionally, monotherapy is used as first-line treatment to achieve BP targets; however, when this fails, combination therapy is then required. In light of the need to attain BP goals, combination therapy (especially fixed-dose) is currently recommended. The main advantages of combination therapy over monotherapy are not only that of reduced dose, improved efficacy and reduced adverse effects, but also of target protection and re...