Vasodilators in the treatment of hypertension.

Vasodilator drugs play an important role in the treatment of hypertension in 1974. A powerful vasodilator such as diazoxide may be necessary in the control of the most severely affected patients. It should not be forgotten that drugs of the benzothiadiazine group probably act mainly as vasodilators and that their effect is not dependent upon natriuresis and diuresis. New vasodilators such as minoxidil may have an important role in the treatment of hypertension, but these have not yet been adequately assessed in Australia. Both hydrallazine and prazosin produce a significant fall in the blood pressure when added to a combination of a beta blocker and a diuretic, and double-blind studies have shown that the side effects are more predominant with hydrallazine than with prazosin.