The use of timolol/bendrofluazide (Prestim) in the treatment of hypertensive patients failing to respond to other antihypertensives.

This study was designed to assess the effectiveness of a timolol/bendrofluazide combination (Prestim) in mild to moderate essential hypertension in patients not achieving control of blood pressure on a variety of drugs used alone or in combination (methyldopa, diuretics, beta-blockers, etc.). Normotension (diastolic blood pressure less than 95 mm Hg) was achieved in sixty-eight out of eighty-four (81%) patients with a mean daily dose of 1.9 tablets. Seven patients stopped therapy because of adverse reactions and eight patients did not respond to the maximum dose of four tablets daily. One other patient, initially controlled on two tablet daily, was uncontrolled at the final assessment. The change-over from previous therapy to Prestim was easily managed and no reports of metabolic disturbance were received. Prestim proved an effective alternative in patients not responding satisfactorily to other antihypertensive therapies.