NEWER DRUGS IN THE TREATMENT OF HYPERTENSION.

The treatment of essential hypertension still consists of the judicious combination of two or more agents. The chemical nature, pharmacology, side effects and relative merits of two groups of drugs are reviewed: (1) agents interfering with the synthesis, storage and release of endogenous catecholamines and (2) oral diuretic agents. Rauwolfia compounds, bretylium tosylate, guanethidine, alpha-methyldopa and pargyline hydrochloride comprise the first group; thiazide derivatives, phthalimidine compounds and spironolactones constitute the second. Guanethidine is the most potent and most extensively used agent in the second group. While not yet fully assessed, alpha-methyldopa and pargyline hydrochloride are useful in selected cases. The intrinsic hypotensive properties of oral diuretics, their low incidence of side effects and their ability to potentiate the more potent agents make them useful adjuncts in the long-term treatment of hypertension. Attention is drawn to the potential diabetogenic and hyperuricemic effects of the thiazides and phthalimidine compounds.