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Published on: January 19, 2015
Evaluation of a new antihypertensive agent: prazosin hydrochloride (Minipress)
Abstract:
Prazosin hydrochloride is an orally administered vasodilator that recently became available for the treatment of hypertension. It causes less tachycardia than hydralazine but may produce orthostatic hypotension, particularly after the initial dose. The role of prazosin in therapy is limited because of the risk of a first-dose syncopal reaction, and it appears to be indicated primarily in patients who cannot tolerate hydralazine hydrochloride or sympathetic depressant drugs. Like other antihypertensive agents, prazosin should be given with a diuretic.
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These agonists bind to the IPR receptor situated on the plasma membrane of the pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells. This binding triggers a cascade of reactions known as the GS-AC-cAMP-PKA pathway. This pathway results in the relaxation of smooth muscle...

