title: Minoxidil in combination with a beta-adrenergic blocker and a diuretic as an antihypertensive in patients refractory to available medications.
abstract: Minoxidil in combination with a beta-adrenergic blocker and a diuretic was used in 12 male hypertensive patients who did not respond to or who developed unpleasant side-effects from the available medications. Blood pressure was effectively controlled in 9 of the 12 patients at the end of the 14-week planned treatment programme. The main side-effects were weight gain in all the patients, oedema of the legs in 3 patients, hirsutism in 3 patients and palpitations in 2 patients. A disturbing side-effect was pericarditis with congestive cardiac failure in 1 patient. Minoxidil, in spite of its serious side-effects, is a valuable hypotensive agent in the treatment of male hypertensive patients who do not respond to or who develop unpleasant side-effects from the available hypotensive medications.
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000328:Adult; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004232:Diuretics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008914:Minoxidil / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D004232:Diuretics; D011743:Pyrimidines; D008914:Minoxidil