Tiapamil (T), a calcium antagonist, was studied in hypertensive patients by 1) automatic monitor of blood pressure (AMBP), and 2) cuff and stethoscope clinic blood pressure (CBP). Systolic (SBP), diastolic (DBP) pressures and heart rate were measured. Patients (n = 58) received four weeks of placebos given twice daily. Baseline 24 h AMBP (wk 4), 147 +/- 18 (SBP) and 91 +/- 8 (DBP) mmHg; and CBP (wk 3 and 4), 152 +/- 16 (SBP) and 102 +/- 9 (DBP) were established. Then, patients received double-blinded therapy (wk 5-10) of twice daily tablets of placebo (n = 9); Level I T, 150-300 mg (n = 24); or Level II T, 450-600 mg (n = 25): i.e. 0 to 1,200 mg T/d. Significant responses, measured by AMBP (wk 10), were noted only at Level II T: SBP (-10.5 +/- 12.4) and DBP (-5.6 +/- 7.8) mmHg. However, CBP (wk 9 and 10) responded at Level I T (SBP, -7.7 +/- 12.4/DBP, -5.8 +/- 6.4) and Level II T (SBP, -8.8 +/- 9.4/DBP, -9.7 +/- 7.8 mmHg). There was minimal correlation (r = 0.16) of pressure responses to T measured by 24-h AMBP versus CBP methods. Therefore, T effectively lowered SBP and DBP, but individual responses measured by AMBP did not predict those measured by CBP. There was no effect of T on heart rate. Dizziness was noted in 12 percent of patients on T.