The clinical pharmacology of hypotensive vasodilator drugs.

Drugs which lower arterial blood pressure by direct vasodilator action usually have to be combined with beta adrenergic blocking drugs and diuretics for maximum clinical effectiveness. Appreciation of the pharmacodynamic interactions is necessary to individualize drug programmes rationally. Vasodilator drug therapy is remarkable for the lack of side effects such as central nervous system effects, postural hypotension and sexual difficulties which usually characterize most "antiadrenergic" drug regiments.