title: Guanfacine: a new centrally-acting antihypertensive agent.
abstract: The centrally-acting antihypertensive drug guanfacine was studied in a group of 11 moderate hypertensives. In doses of 2 mg daily, an average reduction in diastolic blood pressure of 10.8 mmHg was achieved. Side-effects were few when doses were maintained below 3 mg daily. The blood pressure reduction was associated with a fall in plasma renin activity and an average weight gain of 1.8 kg. When guanfacine was tried in 6 very severe hypertensives who had proved resistant to other antihypertensive drugs, a similar reduction in diastolic pressure of 7 mmHg was achieved using a dose of 3 mg daily. It is considered that guanfacine is a useful new antihypertensive drug, effective in mild hypertension, and side-effects are few if doses are maintained below 3 mg daily. Above this dose, side-effects became prominent, and these included sedation, dry mouth and constipation.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D016316:Guanfacine; D006146:Guanidines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010648:Phenylacetates / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D006146:Guanidines; D010648:Phenylacetates; D016316:Guanfacine