Clinical Observations on Chlorothiazide and Rauwolfia in Treatment of Essential Hypertension

To evaluate the antihypertensive effect of a combination of chlorothiazide and Rauwolfia, 26 patients were given chlorothiazide alone for two months and 24 were given Rauwolfia alone for the same period; then 18 patients (10 from the first group and eight from the second) were given both drugs for two months.

Chlorothiazide alone proved to be an effective antihypertensive agent in 35 per cent of patients with mild to moderate hypertension. The number of cases in which the blood pressure decreased to normotensive levels increased when Rauwolfia was added. Results of combined therapy were better when chlorothiazide rather than Rauwolfia was given alone first.