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Hypertension first-line treatment — GPhC CRA MCQ

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EasyCardiovascular TherapeuticsHypertension first-line treatmentGPhC CRA

A 65-year-old man of African Caribbean heritage attends the pharmacy for a blood pressure check. His reading is 158/94 mmHg on repeated measurement. He has no other medical conditions and takes no regular medication. His GP has started treatment. Which antihypertensive would be the most appropriate first-line choice?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

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Correct answer: A — Amlodipine 5 mg once daily

NICE recommends that for patients of African Caribbean heritage with hypertension, a calcium channel blocker (such as amlodipine) is the first-line treatment. ACE inhibitors and ARBs are less effective in this population as monotherapy. Beta-blockers are not first-line for hypertension. Alpha-blockers like doxazosin are reserved for resistant hypertension as add-on therapy.

Reference: NICE NG136 Hypertension