The Effect of Amlodipine Alone and in Combination with Atenolol on Bowel Habit in Patients with Hypertension: An Observation

2011

Amlodipine and Atenolol's Effects on Bowel Habits in Hypertensive Patients

Sample size: 100 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Lekha Saha, Shekhar Gautam Chander

Primary Institution: Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh

Hypothesis

Does amlodipine alone increase the risk of constipation compared to its combination with atenolol in hypertensive patients?

Conclusion

Amlodipine alone significantly increases the risk of constipation compared to the combination of amlodipine and atenolol.

Supporting Evidence

The relative risk of developing constipation was 4 times higher in patients taking amlodipine alone.
Patients on amlodipine alone had a higher incidence of hard stool compared to those on the combination therapy.
The study included 100 patients, evenly split between the two treatment groups.

Takeaway

If you take amlodipine by itself, you might get constipated more often than if you take it with atenolol.

Methodology

This was a noninterventional observational study involving 100 hypertensive patients, comparing those on amlodipine alone and those on a combination of amlodipine and atenolol.