Dihydroergotamine: an effective treatment for postural hypotension due to antihypertensive drugs (ganglion-blocking agents excepted).

In this study the effect of DHE on postural hypotension induced by major antihypertensive drugs was evaluated in 40 patients. 30 patients were treated with methyldopa, five with guanoxan sulphate and five with bethanidine sulphate. To obtain a more accurate picture of the effectiveness of DHE and to test the reproducibility of its effect, each patient was observed during five separate, successive periods: in the first period the antihypertensive agent was given alone; in the second period it was given along with placebo; in the third period it was given with DHE; in the fourth period the antihypertensive agent was given alone again; and in the fifth period it was again given with DHE. In the third and in the fifth period, DHE was administered at the same time as the antihypertensive agent in a dose of 9-15 mg/24 h (3-5 mg three times daily). The first dose was given 1 h before rising, and the daily dosage was progressively increased. The beneficial effect of DHE on postural hypotension was evaluated by assessing the clinical symptoms in a semiquantitative manner and by measuring the arterial blood pressure and heart rate in a recumbent and standing position. The results were classified as follows: excellent, good, moderate and no response. In most cases, DHE was found to be an effective drug for the treatment of postural hypotension, an improvement in clinical symptoms being noted in 57.5% of patients tested (excellent and good results). In these patients the standing arterial blood pressure showed a significant response (p less than 0.01). DHE did not interfere with the therapeutic effect of the antihypertensive agents. Furthermore, DHE did not affect the heart rate, nor did it give rise to any adverse reactions.