Abstract
The safety, efficacy and the effect on the plasma total cholesterol of once‐daily terazosin hydrochloride administered either as monotherapy or in combination with other antihypertensive therapy were evaluated in patients with mild‐moderate uncontrolled essential hypertension in this U.K., open, multicentre hospital, 3‐month study. Patients initially received 1 mg of terazosin as monotherapy or in addition to their current antihypertensive therapy followed by dose titration, if necessary, to a maximum of 10 mg over the first 6 weeks depending upon blood pressure control. Patients then continued treatment for a further 6 weeks on their optimum dosage. There were highly significant mean reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressures at the end of 12 weeks for 439 patients of 18·5 and 14·o mmHg (PPP< 0·001). In addition, in a sub‐group of 132 patients who had their mean total cholesterol measured at the end of 12 weeks' treatment, there was a significant reduction of –0·4mmol/l (PP 0·05 < 0·1). No serious toxicity or safety problems were observed. Once daily administration of terazosin, either as monotherapy or in combination with other antihypertensive agents, proved to be safe and effective in reducing the blood pressure of patients with uncontrolled mild‐moderate essential hypertension and favourably reduced the total plasma cholesterol level.