olmesartan medoxomil hydrochlorothiazide (Sevikar HCT)

following an abbreviated submission

olmesartan medoxomil / amlodipine besilate / hydrochlorothiazide (Sevikar HCT®) is accepted for use within NHS Scotland.

Indication under review: as substitution therapy in adult patients whose blood pressure is adequately controlled on the combination of olmesartan medoxomil, amlodipine, and hydrochlorothiazide taken as a dual component (olmesartan medoxomil and amlodipine or olmesartan medoxomil and hydrochlorothiazide) and a single formulation (hydrochlorothiazide or amlodipine).

In a phase III randomised four-arm study of patients with moderate to severe hypertension Sevikar HCT was superior to three dual combination therapies for the the primary endpoint, change in diastolic pressure.

In patients for whom concomitant use of these medicines is appropriate it allows administration of a single tablet at a lower or modestly increased cost (depending on dose) compared to another dual combination product plus single component. Angiotensin receptor blockers are an alternative to ACE inhibitors where these are not tolerated.  These fixed dose combinations are among many options for the treatment of hypertension, many of which are less expensive.