Long-term study of oxdralazine in hypertensive patients

56 moderate and severe hypertensive patients entered an open long-term trial aimed at evaluating the efficacy and tolerability of a combined treatment consisting of 3-hydrazino-6-[N,N-bis-(2-hydroxyethyl)amino]pyridazine (oxdralazine, L 6150), propranolol and chlorthalidone. The mean basal blood pressure was 186.9/111.8 mmHg: after one month of treatment, the mean value was 149.7/95.5 mmHg (p less than 0.01). The heart rate was practically unaffected by treatment, the mean value changing from 75.4 b.p.m. (basal) to 73.3 b.p.m. (one month). The significant reduction in the blood pressure observed at the end of the first month remained unchanged in the following months of therapy, and only minor variations occurred. The combined treatment was well tolerated. Five patients were withdrawn from the trial during the first month; three of them because of side-effects and two of them for personal reasons.