EFFICACY AND TOLERANCE OF THE IMIDAZOLINE RECEPTOR AGENT MOXONIDINE

Moxonidine is a new antihypertensive agent, which reduces sympathetic activity by binding to imidazoline receptors in the medulla oblongata. The following study was performed in order to evaluate the efficacy a nd tolerance during long-term treatment (52 weeks) in 223 patients. Af ter individual dose titration (0.2-0.6 mg Moxonidine per day) during t he first 12 weeks of treatment sitting blood pressure after 12 weeks w as markedly reduced, falling from 176 +/- 16/103 +/- 5 mmHg to 151 +/- 14/88 +/- 7 mmHg. During the first 12 weeks a normalisation of diasto lic blood pressure (less-than-or-equal-to 90 mmHg) was obtained in 64. 3% of all patients. The reduction of greater-than-or-equal-to 10 mmHg was observed in 78.4% of all patients. By combining both definitions, the response rate after 12 weeks was 80.9%. The blood pressure remaine d unchanged during the entire following treatment period. An increase of the dosage was not necessary. Moxonidine proved to be well tolerate d. The most frequent adverse events were dry mouth (10.8%), dizziness (7.2%) and headache (4,5%).