Methyldopa and Hydrochlorothiazide in Primary Hypertension

Abstract

Forty-five hypertensive patients were given hydrochlorothiazide for 1 month and were then allocated at random to one of three treatment groups: methyldopa and hydrochlorothiazide, methyldopa alone, or hydrochlorothiazide alone. Combination of hypotensive drugs reduced supine mean arterial pressure more effectively than methyldopa alone. Methyldopa and hydrochlorothiazide may have a slightly greater depressor effect on supine blood pressure than a thiazide alone, but the difference was not statistically significant in this study. Combination produced a significantly greater decrease in standing mean arterial pressure than did either drug alone. Pulse rate was modestly reduced in patients who received methyldopa. The mild increase in body weight after methyldopa alone was not seen in the other two groups. Serious toxicity was not observed in this short-term trial.