Experience with ketanserin, a serotonin (S2) antagonist, in longterm treatment of essential hypertension.

Ketanserin ia a quinazoline derivative which acts selectively on serotonin (S2) receptors. The compound has been shown to possess antihypertensive properties. BP and HR were measured blindly on 14 patients with essential hypertension during one year. Ketanserin 40 mg, once or twice daily, reduced BP (and HR to a slight extent) largely unchanged from 14 days after initiation of therapy. Response rate varied from 57-77% at the regular control visits. During the one year follow up period the reduction in supine SBP was 9 +/- 3% (p less than 0.001) and DBP was 12 +/- 1% (p less than 0.001). The only side effect was a slight sedation that passed with time. It is concluded that ketanserin is effective in the chronic treatment of hypertension and may offer a new alternative to existing pharmacotherapy.