INDICES> reserpine availability? (2)

["Dr.L.Offerhaus" <lo@euronet.nl>]

INDICES> reserpine availability? (2)
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As a drug regulator I have been instrumental in the removal of 
reserpine from the Dutch market in the early 80ies. There is 
excellent published trial evidence that reserpine (with or without 
additional diuretic) in a dose of tid 0.1 mg is ineffective in any from 
of hypertension. On the other hand, there is also very good 
evidence that the "old fashioned" dose of bid or tid 0.25 mg is linked 
to a significant degree of depression and even unmotivated suicide. 
Unfortunately it will be difficult to retrieve that evidence at this stage, 
because Medline started in 1966 and much of it dates back before 
that year. Novartis (i.e., Ciba-Geigy) was well aware of the evidence 
and there was no problem getting rid of these "skeletons in the 
cupboard". The great majority of patients can easily be treated with 
a simple and cheap combination of a selective beta-blocker and a 
thiazide, or even one of those as monotherapy. There is no place 
any more for reserpine in modern antihypertensive treatment.

Good luck, try to change the patient's opinion.

Best wishes.

Dr.L.Offerhaus
Koedijklaan 1a, NL-1406KW Bussum, The Netherlands
Phone: +31-35-6923288.  Fax: +31-35-6923290
E-mail: LO@EURONET.NL  CompuServe disconnected from 1/3/2001
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