METHYLDOPA+ DIURETIC GIVES BETTER BLOOD PRESSURE CONTROL

The widely used drug combination of methyldopa and a diuretic, cyclopenthiazide K ('Navidrex-K'), gave better

systolic and diastolic pressure control than the alpha-blocking agent, phenoxybenzarnine re-examined together

with the non-selective beta-blocking drug, oxprenolol, in a double-blind cross-over trial in 25 hypertensive patients

with non-malignant hypertension. Side-effects, mainly tiredness, were similar with both drug combinations and

three patients withdrew because of them.

During the 1 0-week treatment patients were given either a fixed single dose of 2 tablets of cyclopenthiazide K

daily (equal to cyclopenthiazide O.Smg and potassium chloride 1200mg) plus methyldopa 250mg tid for 2 weeks,

SOOmg tid for 2 weeks, and 7 SOmg tid for a further 6 weeks. The alternative regimen was phenoxybenzarnine lOmg bid, plus 80mg oxprenolol tid 2 weeks, 160mg tid for 2 weeks, and 240mg tid for a further 6 weeks. The

INPHARMA 17th July, 1976 p9

arbitrary maximum dosage of 750mg methyldopa or 240mg oxprenolol was reached by 19 and 21, respectively,

of the 22 patients who completed the trial; the others achieved acceptable pressure control on less.

The mean supine systolic, supine diastolic, standing systolic, and standing diastolic pressure was reduced by 16.2,

10.2, 23.3, and 15.8mm Hg on oxprenolol/phenoxybenzamine; and by 30.5, 17.4, 39.3, and 22.7mm Hg on

methyldopa/cyclopenthiazide K, respectively. 'It is concluded that phenoxybenzamine used in combination with a beta-blocking drug has no advantages in the routine treatment of hypertension.'

Crook, B. et al.: Clinical Trials Journall3: 11 (No 1, 1976)