Antihypertensive therapy with indoramin in the elderly

The antihypertensive efficacy and safety of indoramin, an alpha 1-adrenergic antagonist, were evaluated in 215 elderly patients. Data were collected from patients aged 60 years and older who were treated under similar protocols with indoramin administered alone (n = 58) or in combination with a thiazide diuretic (n = 157). After at least 6 months of treatment, the mean daily dosage of indoramin was higher among patients who received indoramin alone (122 mg/day) than among those who received indoramin plus a diuretic (92 mg/day). Mean supine blood pressure decreased (p less than 0.001) from 174/105 to 152/191 mm Hg in indoramin-treated patients and from 179/101 to 150/91 mm Hg in patients who were treated with indoramin plus a diuretic. Clinically satisfactory blood pressure decreases occurred in the majority of the patients who received indoramin, either alone (69%) or with a diuretic (75%). Both treatments were well tolerated by elderly patients; only 15 patients (7%) discontinued therapy because of adverse effects. Drowsiness, fatigue, and dizziness were the most frequently reported side effects. The results of this analysis indicate that indoramin, administered alone or in combination with a thiazide diuretic, is a safe and effective therapeutic regimen for elderly hypertensive patients.