[Antihypertensive effect of urapidil in mild to moderate arterial hypertension. Randomized, double-blind versus...

To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of urapidil (a new central and peripheral antihypertensive agent) in patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension.

Thirty-one patients were randomized, double-blindly, to receive either placebo (15 patients) or urapidil (16 patients) for 3 months. The initial dose of urapidil was 30mg twice daily, per oral. The dose was increased progressively till achievement of good blood pressure control or the dose of 60mg three times a day.

Seventy percent of the patients on urapidil group responded to therapy against 30% on the placebo group. There were 3 cases of hypertensive crises (2 on urapidil and 1 on placebo) on the early therapy. The adverse events with urapidil were unfrequent and the most common were headache and dizziness. There were no modification on blood sugar and lipids level.

Urapidil appears to be a safe antihypertensive agent in the treatment of mild to moderate essential hypertension. It also did not demonstrate any clinical effect on the carbohydrates and lipids profile.