A dose of reserpine 0.5 mg/day or greater achieved the SBP effects .
AUTHORS ' CONCLUSIONS Reserpine is effective in reducing SBP roughly to the same degree as other first-line antihypertensive drugs .
BACKGROUND Many antihypertensive agents exist today for the treatment of primary hypertension ( systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg , or both ) .
R and omised controlled trials ( RCTs ) have been carried out to investigate the evidence for these agents .
There is , for example , strong RCT evidence that thiazides reduce mortality and morbidity .
Some of those trials used reserpine as a second-line therapy .
However , the dose-related blood pressure reduction with this agent is not known .
OBJECTIVES The primary objective of this review was to quantify the dose-related efficacy of reserpine versus placebo or no treatment in reducing systolic blood pressure ( SBP ) or diastolic blood pressure ( DBP ) , or both .
We also aim ed to evaluate the dose-related effects of reserpine  on mean arterial blood pressure ( MAP ) and heart rate ( HR ) , as well as the dose-related effects on withdrawals due to adverse events .
Chlorthalidone plus reserpine versus hydrochlorothiazide plus reserpine in a stepped-care approach to the treatment of essential hypertension.
The efficacy of thiazide-like chlorthalidone , 50 mg , plus reserpine , 0.25 mg , was compared with that of hydrochlorothiazide , 50 mg , plus reserpine , 0.125 mg , in a six-week double-blind study of 57 patients with essential hypertension unresponsive to diet control and diuretic ( step 1 ) therapy . An average decrease in diastolic pressure of 17.0 mm Hg was attained at the end of week 6 by the chlorthalidone/reserpine group ; the average drop in the hydrochlorothiazide/reserpine group was 18.6 mm Hg . Both treatment groups displayed greater blood pressure control each week than the preceding week ; and , at the end of week 6 , both groups attained control of at least 5 mm Hg below the diastolic goal pressure of 90 mm Hg . The chlorthalidone/reserpine-treated group required fewer titrations than the hydrochlorothiazide/reserpine-treated group . There were no reports of frequent or severe side effects with either drug
A dose of reserpine 0.5 mg/day or greater achieved the SBP effects .
AUTHORS ' CONCLUSIONS Reserpine is effective in reducing SBP roughly to the same degree as other first-line antihypertensive drugs .
BACKGROUND Many antihypertensive agents exist today for the treatment of primary hypertension ( systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg , or both ) .
R and omised controlled trials ( RCTs ) have been carried out to investigate the evidence for these agents .
There is , for example , strong RCT evidence that thiazides reduce mortality and morbidity .
Some of those trials used reserpine as a second-line therapy .
However , the dose-related blood pressure reduction with this agent is not known .
OBJECTIVES The primary objective of this review was to quantify the dose-related efficacy of reserpine versus placebo or no treatment in reducing systolic blood pressure ( SBP ) or diastolic blood pressure ( DBP ) , or both .
We also aim ed to evaluate the dose-related effects of reserpine  on mean arterial blood pressure ( MAP ) and heart rate ( HR ) , as well as the dose-related effects on withdrawals due to adverse events .