Clonidine and prazosin in the treatment of hypertensive outpatients--a preliminary study.

Clinical assessment of a novel antihypertensive drug combination was undertaken in a group of essential hypertensive patients (n = 20). The effects of several doses of clonidine and its association with prazosin on blood pressure (BP), systolic time intervals (STI), and electrocardiogram (ECG) were investigated. Clonidine monotherapy induced a good BP control at 60%. BP was controlled in those patients in which prazosin was combined with clonidine (87.7%). LVETc was reduced by 0.3, 0.6, and 0.9 mg clonidine daily (p less than 0.05). PEPc was increased by only 0.9 mg, and it was diminished after its combination with 20 mg prazosin daily (p less than 0.05). PEP/LVET index was significantly increased by a higher dose of clonidine (p less than 0.05). ECG intervals did not change with the exception of PR, which was prolonged by 0.9 mg clonidine daily (p less than 0.05). Dry mouth, sedation, constipation, and drowsiness were the main side effects observed during the investigation. These results suggest an alternative treatment of essential hypertension, with a novel clinical application of drugs such as clonidine and prazosin, which have pharmacologic action via different alpha-adrenergic mechanisms.