[Dose-effect comparison of antihypertensive combinations with and without alpha-methyldopa].

In an open clinical trial, 30 compensated cardiac patients with essential hypertension were selected and randomly distributed. Treatment was given by means of two combinations of active agents, one containing 0.15 mg reserpine, 15 mg mefruside and 150 mg inositol nicotinate and the other 0.10 mg reserpine, 10 mg mefruside and 125 mg alpha-methyldopa. A randomized control group of 30 patients with essential hypertension received 0.15 mg reserpine, 15 mg mefruside and 150 mg isositol nicotinate exclusively over the same treatment period. By substituting only 125 mg alpha-methyldopa for 150 mg inositol nicotinate, the reserpine-mefruside portion can be reduced by one third while still obtaining the same antihypertensive effect.