OPEN ASSESSMENT OF THE LONG‐TERM EFFICACY AND TOLERANCE OF INDORAMIN IN HYPERTENSION

1 The long‐term efficacy and tolerance of indoramin, a competitive post‐synaptic α‐adrenoceptor antagonist, was assessed in 41 hypertensive outpatients whose blood pressures were not controlled by hydrochlorothiazide. 2 Thirty‐three patients completed at least 12 months treatment with indoramin plus diuretic. Both erect and supine diastolic blood pressure was significantly reduced after 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months' treatment compared with pretreatment values. 3 Heart rate did not change nor was there any evidence of rebound hypertension when indoramin was abruptly withdrawn in 13 patients. 4 No patient was withdrawn because of side‐effects. The commonest side‐effects were sedation (four patients) and intermittent failure of ejaculation (three patients). These effects were either tolerated with continued treatment or disappeared with a modest reduction in dose. 5 It is concluded that indoramin is an effective hypotensive agent and does not possess the disadvantages of reflex tachycardia, postural hypotension, tolerance and gastrointestinal symptoms associated with earlier α‐adrenoceptor antagonists.