Minoxidil in the treatment of refractory hypertension.

Minoxidil, a powerful vasodilator, is a very effective antihypertensive drug. It was used to treat 22 patients, most of whom were refractory to conventional antihypertensive medication. 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 patients a pruritic bullous eruption which disappeared when the drug was discontinued.