Table 3

Dosage intensity for the 10 most commonly prescribed antihypertensive drugs

DRUG	N0. OF PATIENTS	AVERAGE DAILY DOSE, MG	UPPER LIMIT, MG	INDEX OF INTENSITY^*
Ramipril	198	9.7	10	0.97
Hydrochlorothiazide	165	19.2	25	0.77
Metoprolol	102	141.9	200	0.71
Amlodipine	88	8.1	10	0.81
Furosemide	65	55.7	80	0.70
Nifedipine	55	41.5	60	0.69
Atenolol	53	66.0	100	0.66
Lisinopril	47	23.2	40	0.58
Enalapril	47	19.5	40	0.49
Losartan	41	73.8	100	0.74

↵* Dosage intensity is calculated by dividing the average prescribed daily dose (total dose in milligrams prescribed for a single day) by the upper limit of the range of doses usually effective for hypertension according to the 2006 Compendium of Pharmaceuticals and Specialties.15