Cardiovascular effects of intravenous tolmesoxide in hypertensive patients

Tolmesoxide, a potent vasodilating compound, was infused intravenously (0.5 to 3.5 mg/kg b.w., rate of infusion: 2.5 to 10.0 mg/min during 7--25 min, 2 or 3 successive infusions separated by a 30 min rest period) in 7 hypertensive patients. An abrupt fall in blood pressure and heart rate occurred in 4 patients whereas 2 patients exhibited almost no hemodynamic response. The remaining case suffering from renovascular hypertension responded with a progressive dose-dependent decrease in blood pressure. No obvious correlation could be demonstrated between the drug plasma levels (ranging between 1.0 and 11.1 microgram/ml) and the hemodynamic effects among the 7 patients studied.