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The Place of Alpha Blockers in the Antihypertensive Armamentarium
Author(s) -
Carruthers S. George
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
the journal of clinical pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.92
H-Index - 116
eISSN - 1552-4604
pISSN - 0091-2700
DOI - 10.1002/j.1552-4604.1993.tb03954.x
Subject(s) - medicine , beta (programming language) , alpha (finance) , pharmacology , clinical trial , blockade , adrenergic beta antagonists , diabetes mellitus , heart failure , cholesterol , beta blocker , drug , cardiology , endocrinology , propranolol , surgery , construct validity , receptor , computer science , patient satisfaction , programming language
Although beta‐blockers and diuretics are presently the only medications shown to reduce morbidity and mortality in hypertensives in large clinical trials, these drugs have not exerted optimal expected benefits in reducing cardiac events. Alpha‐1 selective blockers exhibit a favorable impact on lipids, particularly on HDL‐cholesterol. Unlike beta‐blockers, they do not increase triglycerides and they do not produce the increase in LDL‐cholesterol observed with traditional doses of diuretics. Alpha‐blockers should be considered in the treatment of hypertensives with lipid disorders or diabetes and in those who have contraindications, failure to respond or toxicity associated with diuretics and/or beta‐blockade.