CLINICAL USE OF HYDRALAZINE AND HEXAMETHONIUM IN TREATMENT OF HYPERTENSION

Abstract

It is our purpose to report the use of hydralazine (Apresoline) hydrochloride and hexamethonium (Bistrium) in clinical practice. Evaluation of side-effects, safety, best method of administration, and clinical response are stressed. Excellent papers also discussing the use of these drugs have been published during the last year.¹ It was proved that all patients included in our series had hypertension. All had average blood pressures of 150/100 mm. Hg or more prior to therapy except one. This 26-year-old patient had a progressively rising pressure following acute glomerulonephritis and had a pretreatment average blood pressure of 150/96 mm. Hg. The maximum pressure was 300/180 mm. Hg. The majority of patients were from the practice of two of us. The rest were from the practices of other physicians on the staff of Wesley Memorial Hospital. Patients' ages ranged from 17 to 71 years. A few of the patients were entirely free of