A Within-patient Comparison of Debrisoquine and Methyldopa in Hypertension

Abstract

In a titrated dose cross-over trial of debrisoquine and methyldopa in 38 hypertensive patients neither drug was superior in lowering supine or standing diastolic pressure with a minimum of side effects. Methyldopa caused significantly greater reduction of supine (P<0.001) and standing (P<0.02) systolic pressure but caused intolerable side effects in two patients. Tiredness was the most characteristic and troublesome side effect with methyldopa and postural hypotension was prominent in patients while on debrisoquine.