Doxazosin in combination with atenolol in essential hypertension: a double-blind placebo-controlled multicentre trial

Doxazosin (mean dose 11 mg) given once daily in combination with 100 mg atenolol (n = 44) was compared with placebo and atenolol (n = 43) in a double-blind, multicenter study in patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension. In the atenolol/doxazosin-treated group, standing blood pressure significantly decreased by 17.0/12.3 mm Hg compared to 6.2/6.7 mm Hg in the atenolol/placebo group whereas supine blood pressure decreased by 13.2/9.8 mm Hg and 9.2/6.0 mm Hg, respectively in the two groups. Serum lipids did not change significantly in either group. The majority of side-effects reported were mild and transient. This study confirms that doxazosin may be safely combined with a beta-blocker. Doxazosin proved to be well tolerated and effective in patients with blood pressure refractory to atenolol alone.