[Treatment of arterial hypertension in the elderly with an alpha-blocker: nicergoline (author's transl)].

The tolerance and anti-hypertensive activity of nicergoline, an alpha-adrenoceptor blocking agent, were studied in 28 hypertensive subjects older than 65 years (mean age: 84 years). The trial was conducted double-blind: 14 subjects were given nicergoline 30 mg/day divided into 6 doses ("lyocs"), and 14 subjects received a placebo identical in appearance with the drug. A mean decrease of 34 mm Hg in systolic arterial pressure (p < 0.001) and of 16 mm Hg in diastolic arterial pressure (p < 0.001) was observed in subjects under nicergoline. The corresponding changes in blood pressure (-12 and -7.9 mm Hg respectively) in subjects under placebo were not significant. No side-effect requiring discontinuation of treatment was encountered. The remarkable effectiveness and tolerance of nicergoline make it a highly suitable agent for the treatment of hypertension in elderly people.