therapy

CLONIDINE GETS BLOOD PRESSURE DOWN

o Oral loading Rapidly Controls Moderate to Severe Hypertension in Hospital Oral clonidine('Catapres') loading effectively reduced mean blood pressure by 33 ± Jrnm Hg in an average of 2.25 hours in 12 of 15 (80 96 ) hospitalised hypertens ive patients. On admission patients were given cionidine 0. 1 or a.2mg followed by 0.1 mg hourly until the BP was substantially reduced or a total ofO.5mg had been given. Four of 5 patients admitted for eme~gency BP control responded d ramatically to clonidine therapy and were discharged within 24 hours. ,Four patients required a.2mg clonidine. 2 of each 0.3 and OAmg. 3 had a.5mg and I had a.7mg.

• Mean BP fell 38mm Hg in 7 patients within the fi rst 6 hours in hospital and 24mrn Hg in 5 patients in hospital for more than 12 hours.

• Mean pulse rate fell 14 ± 2.5 in 10 of II respOnders. • Side effects were minimal. One patient developed marked postural BP changes but remained asymptomatic. No s ignificant

changes were recorded in renal function tests in responders without any evidence of renal failure. Cohen. I.M. and katr:. M.A., Clinical Pharrnacolotly ~nd Therapc;uUcs 24: f f Uuf f 978)

o Combination with Chlorthalidone Gives Good long Term Control Clonidine hydrochloride ('Catapres'; Boehringer ingelheim) in combination with a diuretic ,hlo-·,I,'don. u' 0 t

•• • • 'UL • gave very sa SLac ory control of moderate to severe hyperte~ lo~ In 23 patients over 5 years. This was longer than in previous studies and left l ittle doubt as to the usefulness ofthecombmallon fo r maintenance therapy. After 3 months the recumbem systol ic and diastolic BPs

were lowered by 30.7 and 2:.4m~ Hg. standi ng by 29.4 and 27.3m m Hg, respect ively, and there werefurther reductions over the next 5 yea~ t~ a mean d lastohc BP(.recum~ndof76.2mm Hg. Compared with chlorthalidone alone, the combination gave a further reduction In BP of about 20 % . Increasmg over tht: 5 years. and being greater for diastolic than systolic pressure. Side effects occurred in II patients in the fi rst year. no tably dry mouth but there were only If,rth. , .0.- 'n the ' d f h

. ~l remamerote study. There was no drug-related eye damage; in fact. thecoooition of the eyes of some patients improved Griep. A.H.: Cumn. Thenpeulic Re5Qn:h 24: I (Jill 1978) .

INPHARMA 12th Augus •. 1978 p9