Minoxidil in the treatment of refractory hypertension.

Minoxidil, a powerful vasodilator, is a very effective antihypertensive drug. Twenty-two patients, who were mostly refractory to conventional anti-hypertensive medication, were treated with this drug. There was a swift and definite drop of blood pressure in all cases. In 7 patients with renal disease, renal function did not deteriorate during the administration of minoxidil, and it improved dramatically in the eighth patient. Side effects of the drug were hirsutism, fluid retention, and in 1 patient a pruritic bullous erruption which disappeared when the drug was discontinued.