Responses of the ballistocardiogram in hypertensive patients to the acute administration of apresoline, hexamethonium, veratrone, regitine and sodium amytal.

Acute ballistocardiographic responses to five hypotensive drugs have been evaluated in 15 patients with essential hypertension in conjunction with depressor effects. In the majority of experiments qualitative and quantitative ballistocardiographic improvement paralleled the pressure reductions. On occasion the reverse was true. Inferences were drawn from these reactions based on the pharmacodynamics of the drugs. Because of the fundamental nature of the ballistic record, it is concluded that the capacity of the hypertensive heart to respond ballistocardiographically to a depressor agent permits a useful evaluation of its functional reserve and aids in a more physiologic selection of a hypotensive agent.