[Pharmacologic profile of urapidil. Consequences for use as an antihypertensive drug]

Urapidil, a phenylpiperazine-substituted derivative of uracil, is an example of an anti-hypertensive which lowers elevated blood pressure via at least two different mechanisms. As such, it belongs to the multifactorial or hybrid anti-hypertensives. Urapidil is a peripherally acting alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonist, and, in this regard, is comparable with prazosin and its successor compounds (e.g. doxazosin). In addition, urapidil lowers elevated blood pressure via a central mechanism which is new and differs from that of the classical antihypertensives with a central nervous effect (clonidine, etc.). This additional mechanism favourably influences the side effect profile of urapidil.