- History of mild to moderate hypertension, or newly diagnosed hypertension, defined as
seDBP ≥90 mmHg and
- Withdrawal of all previous antihypertensives prior to the single-blind placebo run-in
period and the double-blind treatment period
- Secondary hypertension (e.g., renal, renovascular, or adrenocortical disease,
pheochromocytoma, Cushing's syndrome, primary aldosteronism, iatrogenic), severe
hypertension, or malignant hypertension
- The patient cannot withdraw from antihypertensives by any route including diuretics,
alpha-blockers, betablockers, calcium channel blockers, ACE-I, ARB, or other
medications affecting blood pressure; patients who have stable angina and have not had
their nitrate dosage changed within the past three months (i.e., on a stable
maintenance dose) are eligible for this study; sildenafil citrate, theophylline, or
papaverine must not be taken within 24 hours prior to a clinic visit