ACUTE PSYCHOSIS AS A COMPLICATION OF HYDRALAZINE THERAPY IN ESSENTIAL HYPERTENSION

doi:10.1001/jama.1953.63690140001008

ACUTE PSYCHOSIS AS A COMPLICATION OF HYDRALAZINE THERAPY IN ESSENTIAL HYPERTENSION

U.S.A.F.; U. S. Army, Washington, D. C.
From the Cardiovascular-Renal Section, Medical Service, and Neuropsychiatric Division, Army Medical Service Graduate School, Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text.

Excerpt

Considerable publicity has recently been given to the newer hypotensive agents. The most promising of these drugs, hexamethonium, a ganglionic blocking agent, and hydralazine (Apresoline) hydrochloride, a sympathetic blocking agent with other complex actions, are now being used extensively in treatment of patients with essential hypertension.¹ A third compound, Dibenzyline (N-phenoxyisopropyl-N-benzyl-β-chloroethylamine) hydrochloride is an orally effective, sympathetic blocking agent that produces a fall in blood pressure when the patient is in an upright position, and is capable of preventing wide fluctuations in pressure as well as relieving symptoms.² All of these drugs may produce severe reactions if they are not used under controlled conditions. Grimson and his associates³ and Schroeder⁴ have recently published reports advising caution in the use of these drugs.

We have encountered numerous side-reactions of these three drugs, used either alone or in combination, in a group of carefully selected patients being treated

Footnotes

The hexamethonium used in this study was supplied by E. R. Squibb Co., New York; the Dibenzyline by Smith, Kline and French Laboratories, Philadelphia; the hydralazine (Apresoline) by Ciba Pharmaceutical Co., Summit, N. J.; and hexamethonium chloride (Methium) by the Chilcott Laboratories, Morris Plains, N. J.