Patient Acceptance of Guanethidine

The relative benefits and risks of reserpine and guanethidine were compared in patients with thiazide-treated mild to moderate hypertension (diastolic pressure 95-115 mm Hg). Fortynine ambulant patients (30 men, 19 women) were treated throughout the study with hydrochlorothiazide, 50 mg/day. In this double blind crossover study each drug was added in graded increments until a predetermined therapeutic response was obtained, blood pressure measurements and side effect scores were evaluated biweekly. Major conclusions of the study were: 1) guanethidine, as well as reserpine, will reduce mild to moderate blood pressures to normal; 2) in most