CLINICAL EVALUATION OF A NEW ANTIHYPERTENSIVE AGENT: W583 (MEBUTAMATE).

W583 (Mebutamate) was administered to nine male hypertensive patients in doses up to 2400 mg. per day in an attempt to lower the blood pressure. No other drug was used concurrently. The blood pressure was lowered in two patients only; and the drug was found to be without effect in the remaining seven patients. No postural effect or alteration in pulse was observed. Mild drowsiness was the only effect observed that might be attributable to W583. The duration of treatment varied between three days, in a patient who then developed delirium and a sudden rise in blood pressure, to five months in one other patient. This drug appears to have a very limited place in the treatment of hypertension. Lack of significant demonstrated antihypertensive effect in seven of nine patients suggested that double-blind control studies are not warranted.