A placebo controlled trial of the alpha-blocker, indoramin, in the treatment of arterial hypertension

Abstract

In a double-blind controlled trial, 25 patients with moderate to severe essential hypertension were treated over a period of 4 weeks with either indoramin (13 patients) or with placebo. Indoramin dosage was individually adjusted and ranged from 100 mg. to 200 mg. per day. Weekly observations were made of blood pressure, heart rate, body weight and side-effects. Indoramin produced a statistically significant reduction in blood pressure and was shown to be vastly superior to placebo. The extent of the fall in pressure was identical in both lying and standing postures, amounting to 32 mm.Hg. and 19 mm.Hg. reductions in systolic and diastolic pressures respectively. Eight of the 13 patients treated had final diastolic pressures below 100 mm.Hg. Heart rate in the indoramin group was significantly reduced in the fourth week of treatment. Tiredness was the predominant side-effect. In several patients this reduced in severity despite continued treatment. There were no changes in biochemical or haematological parameters.