Thrice-daily blood pressure readings on sotalol in the treatment of hypertension: once- versus twice-daily regimen.

Thirty patients with mild to severe essential hypertension satisfactorily controlled by twice-daily sotalol therapy entered a double-blind, crossover study comparing the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of their usual twice-daily sotalol administration with the same dosage given once daily. Each double-blind period extended eight weeks, during which blood pressure and pulse rate were recorded by a nurse three times daily on alternate days during the last week of each period in the patients' usual living conditions. Plasma sotalol concentration was measured before the morning dosage of sotalol. No statistically significant differences in the parameters were found between once- and twice-daily sotalol administration using sotalol in daily dosages from 80 to 320 mg. All patients concluded the trial, and no increase in side effects was noted during the once-daily period.