Antihypertensive efficacy of alpha-methyldopa, chlorothiazide and Supres-150 (alpha-methyldopa-chlorothiazide)

Twenty-two white men and two white women with uncomplicated essential hypertension participated in a randomized double-blind trial comparing placebo with alpha-methyldopa (750 mg/d orally) and chlorothiazide (450 mg/d orally), alone or in combination. There were no significant differences in blood pressures as measured with the patients lying down; however, with the patients standing the systolic, diastolic and mean arterial blood pressures were significantly lower (P < 0.05) after treatment with alpha-methyldopa or the combination product. The higher the blood pressure before treatment, the greater the fall with treatment. Adverse effects were infrequent.