Metabolic effects of prazosin

Abstract

The effects of oral administration of 2 mg of the vasodilator, prazosin [PZ], on several metabolic and endocrine variables were evaluated in 12 patients with hypertension (6 with normal and 6 with abnormal glucose tolerance). PZ was followed by a rise in plasma glucose and serum free fatty acids in both normal and diabetic subjects; there was a trend upward in serum insulin, but growth hormone, prolactin, and gastrin did not change. Although these results are in general agreement with metabolic effects of other .alpha. adrenergic blockers already reported, the rise in plasma glucose is at variance with studies performed with phentolamine.