Recent concepts in the clinical pharmacology of anithypertensive drugs.

As yet, no perfect drug has been found which can reduce supine and standing blood pressure equally, alter primarily peripheral vascular resistance, increase flow to the kidneys and be free of untoward effects. The thiazides, which act directly on the vessels and alpha methyl dopa, which causes an incomplete sympathetic blockade, are the two agents which come closest to the ideal. The advances which have resulted from the discovery of the false neurotransmitters may be expected to lead to the discovery of non-toxic drugs which cause subtle changes in the nerve ending and more controlled sympathetic blockade.