Abstract
1 Cardiovascular, catecholamine and neuroendocrine changes were studied following administration of prazosin to ten normal subjects. In response to a fall in standing blood pressure from 87±5 (s.d.) mmHg to 49±20 (P < 0.01) heart rate (measured by continuous ECG monitoring) rose from 81±11 to 118±20 (P < 0.01). Five of the ten subjects sustained their tachycardia on standing and developed at most mild symptoms. In the other five, tachycardia suddenly gave way to bradycardia and they became syncopal.