title: Alpha blockade. An overview of efficacy data.
abstract: The antihypertensive effects of the alpha-adrenergic blocking agent prazosin have been studied extensively. Prazosin exerts a vasodilatory effect via selective competitive blockade of post-junctional alpha 1 adrenoceptors. Results of various other clinical trials suggest that the selective alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonist prazosin has a significant impact on two of the three primary coronary heart disease risk factors. In the articles reviewed herein, prazosin is shown to be an effective agent when used alone or in combination with other agents. Stamler and co-workers showed that prazosin alone achieves successful control of blood pressure equal to that of hydrochlorothiazide. Inouye et al compared the effectiveness of prazosin with propranolol and hydrochlorothiazide and found all three drugs to be comparable. Okun reveals the efficacy of prazosin across the spectrum of hypertension--mild, moderate, and severe. Additionally, Okun's prazosin versus captopril study revealed equal efficacy between these two drugs. The long-term comparative data of Lowenstein and Neusy show prazosin and atenolol to be equally effective as monotherapy after one year.
mesh_terms: D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D011224:Prazosin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids; D011224:Prazosin