Micardis High Blood Pressure Study
Hypertension is a common disease affecting millions of people worldwide.
It is a significant risk factor for stroke, heart disease and kidney
failure. Blood pressure control with medications decreases the incidence
of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.
In this study, we aim to show that Micardis HCT (telmisartan 80 mg/
hydrochlorothizide 25 mg) is superior to placebo (the sugar pill
or the pill with no active drug) in lowering blood pressure and is
at least as effective as Diovan HCT (valsartan 160 mg/ hydrochlorothizide
25 mg) in lowering blood pressure.
The subjects will be randomly assigned (like drawing numbers from a
hat) to receive one of the following study treatments:
- Micardis, then Micardis and HCT (water pill)
- Diovan, then Diovan and HCT (water pill)
- Placebo (no active medication or ‘sugar pill’)
Every subject will receive placebo at some time during the study. Blood
pressure measurements and blood draws to estimate various substances
in the blood will be done.