Premium
NEUROENDOCRINE ASPECTS OF CENTRALLY ACTING HYPOTENSIVE DRUGS
Author(s) -
LAMBERTS S.W.J.
Publication year - 1983
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.1365-2125.1983.tb00319.x
Subject(s) - guanfacine , medicine , bromocriptine , prolactin , endocrinology , blood pressure , methyldopa , clonidine , hormone
1 The effects of chronic treatment with methyldopa on plasma prolactin (PRL) levels and of the acute administration of guanfacine on growth hormone (GH) release in acromegalic patients were investigated. 2 Elevated plasma PRL concentrations were observed in five of eight patients during chronic treatment with methyldopa (750 mg/day) for 3–8 months. Three male patients complained of loss of libido and/or impotence. Addition of bromocriptine (7.5 mg/day) to methyldopa therapy normalized the PRL levels and sexual function, while it resulted in a further decrease in blood pressure. 3 Guanfacine as an acute test dose is a strong stimulator of GH secretion. We investigated the effect of guanfacine (2 mg orally) on plasma GH levels in six acromegalic patients. In five patients, the elevated plasma GH levels showed a paradoxical decrease from 90 to 180 min after the administration of the drug, while blood pressure remained unchanged. 4 Guanfacine appears to be a safe drug in patients with GH‐secreting pituitary tumours and may possibly be beneficial.