Considerations in the long-term treatment of hypertension.

The indications for treatment of hypertension, the goals of therapy, and the effects of long-term treatment are considered. The importance of individualized therapy (eg, for systolic hypertension, for borderline hypertension, and for hypertension in the elderly) and the problems of noncompliance, tolerance, and withdrawal are discussed. Beneficial and adverse effects of long-term treatment with beta-blockers, captopril, clonidine, diuretics, guanethidine, hydralazine, methyldopa, minoxidil, prazosin, and reserpine are outlined.