Quality of Life and Antihypertensive Drug Therapy

Joel Handler, MD

Combination Therapy to Reduce Adverse Effects and Increase Compliance

One of the ways compliance can be improved is by using a combination tablet. A study has demonstrated improved persistence with prescription refills and patient compliance using a combination pill (Figure 10). Lisinopril/HCTZ combination was compared with separate lisinopril and HCTZ tablets. At the end of a year, there was an 18.8% difference in persistence favoring the combination pill.^[44]

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Drug persistence rates at 12 months in newly diagnosed hypertensive patients administered lisinopril and hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) as two separate pills (lisinopril) vs. a single combination tablet (lisinopril/HCTZ). Reprinted with permission from Manag Care. 2000;9(9 suppl):S2-S6.[44]