Delapril: Pending U.S. FDA Approval to Treat Essential Hypertension

Hypertension is a leading cause of health concern for most adults. While hypertension can be well controlled with diet, exercise and weight management, some adults require the use of prescription medications. For some patients, the use of prescription drug known as delapril has been shown to be quite effective.

As a once-per-day dosing ACE inhibitor, the use of delapril is effective in patients with essential hypertension. In mild to moderate hypertension, the dose recommended is usually at 30 milligrams per day. With this therapeutic level, the therapeutic benefits, in managing essential hypertension, are usually at maximum level within 12 weeks of first use.

Delapril is considered a combination therapy as it is usually combined in dosing with manidipine, at 10 milligrams, providing for fewer side effects than a monotherapy. As with most hypertensive drugs, the use of delapril does not come without side effects. The most common side effects reported include headache pain, edema and persistent cough. For most hypertension sufferers, these complications will improve with treatment.

For treatment of hypertension complications in elderly, the recommendation is to use a half dose and then to titrate based on the need of the patient. Delapril, in the treatment of hypertension in children, is not indicated. Additionally, in women who are pregnant or may become pregnant, the use of delapril should be considered carefully against other treatment options. In patients with a pre-existing history of liver complications, the use of delapril may also not be indicated; dosing adjustments should be considered if hypertension is an issue in the patient with liver disease.

While not currently approved for use in the United States, the FDA is reviewing this drug combination therapy, for hypertension, at this time. At present, Spain, Brazil and Austria have approved the use of delapril in the treatment of hypertension; it is expected the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will consider approval in the next 24 months.