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 .
The Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly Program (SHEP): an intervention trial on isolated systolic hypertension. SHEP Cooperative Research Group.
The Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly Program ( SHEP ) is a r and omized double-blind placebo-controlled trial to determine if antihypertensive treatment of isolated systolic hypertension ( ISH ) [ systolic blood pressure ( SBP ) greater than or equal to 160 mmHg , diastolic blood pressure ( DBP ) less than 90 mmHg ] reduces the 5 year incidence of fatal and nonfatal stroke . Between March 1 , 1985 and January 15 , 1988 , 4736 persons ( target 4800 ) with ISH , age 60 years and over , were enrolled . Potential participants met blood pressure ( BP ) and age criteria . Those on antihypertensive medication prior to enrollment without documented diastolic hypertension had their medication tapered and discontinued , and then met BP criteria ( 33 % of cohort ) . Stepped-care therapy with chlorthalidone and atenolol ( alternative , reserpine ) or matching placebos was initiated as first and second steps . At baseline the trial population was 43.1 % male , 56.9 % female ; 13.9 % black , 86.1 % non-black . Also , the mean age was 71.6 years ; the mean SBP was 170.3 mmHg and the mean DBP was 76.6 mmHg ; 59.8 % had codeable resting electrocardiographic abnormalities .  The trial is now in follow-up phase with scheduled termination in 1991
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 .