Fixed-dose combination therapy: reduction of side effects with enhanced tolerance and antihypertensive efficacy

Despite the availability of many newer antihypertensive agents, hypertensive patients remain at a higher risk of premature death than the general population. This persistence of elevated morbidity and mortality may be accounted for by the frequent failure to achieve adequate blood pressure reduction despite an extensive range of available antihypertensive agents. Such considerations have led to the reassessment of the potential role of fixed-dose combination agents. The antihypertensive efficacy may be enhanced when two classes of agents are combined. In addition, combination therapy enhances tolerability because one drug of fixed combination can antagonize some of the adverse effects of the second drug. Fixed-dose combination therapy simplifies the treatment regimen, preventing treatment failures that might result from missed doses.