Comparative study with prazosin, methyldopa and polythiazide in arterial hypertension
Marinković, M.; Vrhovac, B.; Kuzmanić, D.; Radonić, M.
International Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Biopharmacy 17(1): 38-47
1979
ISSN/ISBN: 0340-0026 PMID: 367977 Document Number: 152512
Outpatients (47, 20-57 yr old) with mild, moderate and severe hypertension were randomized to prazosin (4-20 mg/day) or methyldopa (0.5-1.5 g/day) after 2 wk of placebo treatment. The results obtained in 39 patients (19 in the prazosin and 20 in the methyldopa group) who were treated > 2 mo. were presented. In the prazosin group BP was measured in 12 patients on prazosin (7 of whom were on polythiazide) and 5 patients on methyldopa (3 on polythiazide). In all patients receiving prazosin only a fall of PRA was observed. The addition of polythiazide abolished the hypereninemic effect of the drug in correlation with the duration of therapy. There were no significant side effects in either group. Prazosin caused mild side effects in 21% of patients. The first dose phenomenon was not observed. Prazosin and methyldopa have a comparable antihypertensive action on systolic and diastolic BP. In spite of being a direct arterial dilator, prazosin does not cause postural tachycarida.