Prazosin in general practice

Forty-seven consecutive hypertensive patients, 27 of whom were inadequately controlled on previous therapy, were included in a general-practice study using prazosin hydrochloride as anti-hypertensive therapy. Eleven (23 percent) had their hypertension controlled by prazosin alone, increasing to 68 percent with the addition of a diuretic, and to 87 percent by adding a beta blocker with or without a diuretic. The range of dosage varied widely and the side effects, although frequent, were not serious. Prazosin is considered to be a useful anti-hypertensive agent especially in combination with thiazides and/or beta blockers.