TRIAL OF A NEW HYPOTENSIVE DRUG — CLONIDINE (“CATAPRES”)

Abstract

Clonidine was administered to 20 hypertensive patients (with one exception in the benign phase) who had recently had no hypotensive drugs, and in a further two patients with severe hypertension was substituted for other drugs. A reduction in blood pressure occurred in 17 of 19 patients receiving clonidine alone, and near‐normal levels (diastolic blood pressure less than 100 mm Hg) were observed in 10. Satisfactory blood pressure control was also obtained in one patient treated with clonidine plus cyclothiazide from the outset. Little change was observed to follow the addition of cyclothiazide in the blood pressure of patients started on clonidine as the sole treatment, except in the case of one patient who was unresponsive to clonidine alone. Treatment with clonidine was unsatisfactory in two cases of severe hypertension in which it was substituted for other hypotensive drugs, which were also ineffective. The most frequent side effects were drowsiness and dryness of the mouth. There was a moderate increase in dose requirement over 12 months, but tolerance did not present a problem. Our findings indicate that clonidine is an effective hypotensive agent in the treatment of most patients with benign hypertension, but has a high incidence of side effects, although these were not severe enough to require cessation of therapy.