Doxazosin in the treatment of mild and moderate essential hypertension in general medical practice

Doxazosin, a selective α₁-inhibitor, was assessed in 34 patients with mild and moderate hyportension. This study involved three phases: (1) a 2-week baseline period, (2) an 8-week period in which patients received 1 to 8 mg of doxazosin once dally, and (3) a 4-week maintenance period. After 12 weeks, 77% of the efficacy evaluable patients were considered therapy successes (sitting diastolic blood pressure either ≤90 mm Hg with ≥5 mm Hg reduction or ≥10 mm Hg reduction) at a mean daily dose of 4.3 mg. Sixty-one percent achieved blood pressure control (sitting diastolic blood pressure ≤90 mm Hg) at a mean dose of 3.7 mg once daily. By the final treatment visit, systolic/diastolic blood pressures of efficacy evaluable patients were reduced by $\text{17}\text{12}$ and $\text{17}\text{11}\text{mm Hg}$ from a mean baseline of $\text{160}\text{100}$ and $\text{156}\text{101}\text{mm Hg}$ in the sitting and standing positions, respectively (p < 0.05). Of the 34 patients, nine (26%) reported 12 adverse experiences, of which only one was severe. No clinically significant laboratory changes were apparent, and no trends were observed with regard to organ systems or correlations with dose or duration of treatment. The investigator's global assessment of efficacy of once-daily doxazosin therapy was excellent or good for 85% of patients and fair for 15% of patients. The investigator's global assessment of toleration was excellent or good for 91% of patients and fair for 9% of patients. The overall lipid profile indicated a decrease in total cholesterol and triglycerides. From baseline to final visit there was a highly significant reduction of 24% (p < 0.001) in calculated coronary heart disease risk score, which was based on the Framingham equation.