Due to significant heterogeneity across trials , a significant effect in diastolic blood pressure ( DBP ) , mean arterial pressure ( MAP ) , and heart rate ( HR ) could not be found .
The SBP effects were achieved with 0.5 mg/day or greater .
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 and /or diastolic blood pressure > /=90 mmHg ) .
R and omised controlled trials have been carried out to investigate the evidence for these agents .
There is , for example , strong RCT evidence that thiazides reduce mortality and morbidity .
Reserpine has been used as a second-line therapy in some of those trials .
However , the dose-related blood pressure reduction with this agent is not known .
OBJECTIVES To investigate the dose-related effect of reserpine on blood pressure , heart rate and withdrawals due to adverse events .
Propranolol in the treatment of essential hypertension.
In a series of 450 patients with mild essential hypertension , propranolol alone ( P ) , propranolol plus hydrochlorothiazide ( P+T ) , propranolol plus hydralazine ( P+H ) , and propranolol plus hydrochlorothiazide plus hydralazine ( P+T+H ) were compared to reserpine plus hydrochlorothiazide ( R+T ) . Comparison was based on reduction of diastolic blood pressures ( BP ) to below 90 mm Hg and at least 5 mm Hg less than initial BP after six months of treatment . This was achieved in 92 % of patients who received P+T+H , 88 % taking R+T , 81 % receiving P+T , 72 % on P+H and 52 % taking P alone . The number of drop-outs , morbid events , and terminating side effects were insignificantly different among the various regimens . In this study , P and P+H were less effective , while P+T and P+T+H were as effective as the st and ard regimen
Due to significant heterogeneity across trials , a significant effect in diastolic blood pressure ( DBP ) , mean arterial pressure ( MAP ) , and heart rate ( HR ) could not be found .
The SBP effects were achieved with 0.5 mg/day or greater .
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 and /or diastolic blood pressure > /=90 mmHg ) .
R and omised controlled trials have been carried out to investigate the evidence for these agents .
There is , for example , strong RCT evidence that thiazides reduce mortality and morbidity .
Reserpine has been used as a second-line therapy in some of those trials .
However , the dose-related blood pressure reduction with this agent is not known .
OBJECTIVES To investigate the dose-related effect of reserpine on blood pressure , heart rate and withdrawals due to adverse events .