In a double-blind versus placebo preliminary study conducted in seven mildly hypertensive patients, the 10-mg capsule form of nifedipine was able to reduce significantly systolic and diastolic blood pressure (-14%) for 3 h. In a single-dose, cross-over study, captopril (1 mg/kg) and nifedipine (20 mg) significantly reduced blood pressure in 12 patients with moderate essential hypertension, but the mean maximum arterial pressure reduction was faster and greater with nifedipine than with captopril (-23 +/- 2% at 37 +/- 15 min and -17 +/- 1% at 86 +/- 25 min, respectively). Nifedipine did not significantly alter the renin angiotensin aldosterone system in supine and upright positions, and the blood pressure drop it induced was not related to the initial level of activation of that system. Associated with the stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system, an increased release of vasopressin was noted during nifedipine administration. Finally, nifedipine, a calcium antagonist, was a potent antihypertensive drug through its vasodilating properties. It provoked specific hormonal alterations, i.e., stimulation of catecholamines and vasopressin release, whereas the renin angiotensin aldosterone system was not significantly altered.