Prazosin in the therapy of uncontrolled hypertension

Prazosin (Minipress; Pfizer), a new antihypertensive agent, was investigated in 24 outpatients with uncontrolled hypertension. In 12 patients a single-blind placebo-controlled trial was conducted and in 12 patients an open trial with treatment for a minimum of 16 weeks. Three patients developed postural hypotension and were withdrawn from the trial. Fifteen patients responded to treatment with prazosin and normotensive levels were reached in 9. Ten patients had renal impairment at the start of the study; renal function remained static in 9 and serum urea and creatinine values increased in 1. Prazosin maintains renal function well in severely hypertensive patients and has a relatively low incidence of side-effects, related mainly to postural hypotension which develops unpredictably in some patients. In addition to its extensively documented beneficial effect in mild and moderate forms of hypertension, prazosin is of use in the therapy of patients with severe and uncontrolled hypertension.