[The antihypertensive response to prazosin, a selective vascular alpha blocker. A multicenter study].
The efficacy and safety of oral prazosin was assessed in 108 ambulatory mild (91-104 mmHg diastolic pressure) to moderate (104-114 mmHg) essential hypertensive patients. After a 2 week no-drug control period, prazosin, 2, 4, 8 or 10 mg per day was given in 2 weeks periods as needed to obtain control of blood pressure. A seating diastolic pressure of < or = 90 mmHg was defined as adequate response. Satisfactory blood pressure response was obtained in 86% of patients, with doses of 4 mg or less in 70%. Treatment results were not related to initial blood pressure level, but obese patients were more resistant to drug effect (p < 0.05). Heart rate and laboratory parameters did not change. Adverse effects, mainly headache, dizziness and palpitations, were noticed in 46 patients (43%) and occurred with the lower dose in 78% of them. Adverse effects were slight or moderated and lasted from 1 day to 2 weeks in most patients. Treatment was discontinued in 2 patients, one because of persistent dizziness which was promptly relieved after stopping the drug and another due to syncope occurring immediately after a dose increase. We conclude that oral prazosin at low doses is an effective and well-tolerated drug which should be considered in the treatment of mild to moderate hypertension.
Pérez-Olea
J
J
Centro Cardiovascular, Hospital Clínico, Universidad de Chile, Santiago.
Prat
H
H
Román
O
O
Román
O
O
Zarate
L H
LH
Cabello
H
H
Quevedo
M
M
Fuentes
S
S
Reinback
R
R
Chadid
P
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011224:Prazosin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D012074:Remission Induction
D011224:Prazosin
Respuesta antihipertensiv a al prazosin, un alfa bloqueador vascular selectivo. Estudio multicéntrico.