A clinical study designed to evaluate the antihypertensive effect of Catapres .was completed by 25 patients with essential or nephrogenic hypertension. In this0 study, furthermore the effect of 4 tapres was compared with that of a combined therapy with hydrochlorothiazide. In, the first group, which consisted of 16 patients, the daily dose of Catapres ranged from 150 to 300 mcg and in anothe group, consisting of 9 patients, in addition to Catapres 225-450 mcg, each subject received 50-100 mg of hydrochlorothiazide. In 12 out of 14 patients of the first- group (85.7%) and in 5 out of 6 patients of the second group (83.3%) a remarkable hypotensive effect was obtained in essential, hypertension, 5 patient with nephrogenic hypertension, however, showed no significant to response Catapres alone or to a combined therapy except in one case.
A mild degree of mouth dryness, drowsiness and fatigue was reported by a few patients: These, however were of a transient nature. It is concluded from the results obtained that Catapres has a demonstrable hypotensive effect in the treatment of mild or moderate degree of hypertension, either if given alone or in, combination with hydrochlorothiazide. Since Catapres is assumed to have a quite different mechanism of action comparedwith that of other hypotensive agents, it may play a useful role in the management of hypertension which is resistant to other antihypertensive agents.
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