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Guanfacine: Effects of long‐term treatment and withdrawal.
Author(s) -
Reid JOHN L,
Zamboulis C,
Hamilton CA
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
british journal of clinical pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.216
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1365-2125
pISSN - 0306-5251
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2125.1980.tb04928.x
Subject(s) - guanfacine , term (time) , medicine , anesthesia , pharmacology , intensive care medicine , clonidine , physics , quantum mechanics
1. Guanfacine 3-6 mg daily lowered blood pressure in five essential hypertensives and also reduced saliva production. 2. Plasma and urinary noradrenaline values were significantly reduced throughout the 8-10 weeks of treatment. 3. On substitution of placebo tablets for guanfacine, blood pressure increased over a 2-4 d period to reach but did not significantly exceed pretreatment levels. 4. After withdrawal of guanfacine plasma noradrenaline standing was significantly higher than the pretreatment level (P < 0.05) after 4 days. Saliva production was significantly higher than the pretreatment level on day 3 and day 4 of withdrawal. 5. Guanfacine is an effective antihypertensive drug with a spectrum of actions similar to clonidine. However, in abrupt withdrawal blood pressure returned to the pretreatment level over a 2-4 d period.