[Comparative studies on the protective effect of etilefrin and dihydroergotamine in circulatory instability after...

In 20 female and 40 male subjects with circulatory instability, the response of pulse rate and blood pressure to blood loss and orthostasis was studied under the condition of protective pretreatment with drugs known to improve venous return by increasing the tone of capacitance vessels. Before blood loss (420 ml), in a cross-over double-blind procedure, each subject obtained 10 mg etilefrin or 2 mg dihydroergotamine, both administered orally. The procedure was repeated after at least 8 weeks. At this time, the subject obtained the drug which was not given in the first examination. By comparison of pulse rate and blood pressure taken after pretreatment, the statistical evaluation did not reveal any differences in the effectiveness of one or the other drug on the response to hypovolemic and orthostatic conditions. Patients preferred etilefrin.