Terazosin, a new selective alpha 1-adrenergic blocking agent. Results of long-term treatment in patients with essential hypertension.

The long-term treatment of essential hypertension with terazosin, a new once-a-day alpha 1-adrenergic blocking agent, was evaluated in 364 hypertensive patients who received total daily doses of 1 to 40 mg for 3 weeks to 56 months. Consistent mean decreases in supine and standing systolic and diastolic blood pressures were observed throughout the study for patients treated with terazosin as monotherapy (supine, 9 to 12/10 to 13 mm Hg; and standing, 12 to 18/11 to 14 mm Hg) or in combination with other antihypertensive agents (supine, 12 to 16/12 to 15 mm Hg; and standing, 16 to 22/13 to 19 mm Hg). The most commonly reported adverse experiences were dizziness, headache, asthenia, cold symptoms, and nasal congestion. Adverse effects and metabolic disorders often associated with diuretics and beta blockers such as sexual dysfunction, hyperglycemia, hyperuricemia, hypokalemia, or adverse lipid effects were seen infrequently during long-term treatment with terazosin as monotherapy. Overall, terazosin was shown to be effective, safe, and well tolerated by most patients.