The clinical pharmacology of tolmesoxide. A new vasodilator antihypertensive agent.

The haemodynamic response and pharmacokinetics of single dose oral tolmesoxide were studied at various dose levels in 4 patients with severe hypertension. There was a reproducible fall in mean arterial pressure from baseline of 24.2% and a rise in heart rate of 37.6% following administration of tolmesoxide. The onset of antihypertensive action occurred within 1 h, with a peak effect at 3 h after dosing. The mean duration of action was up to 12.0 h. Tolmesoxide had a mean half-life of 3.0 h. It was rapidly absorbed with a mean peak plasma level occurring at 1.0 h. Plasma levels correlated well with the doses administered. Side-effects include mild nausea, facial flushing and postural symptoms.