INDICES> reserpine trials

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

E-DRUG: reserpine trials
------------------------

Dear Gunnar,

The key trial Dollery refers to in his book has been published in 
JAMA 1982;248:2471-7, and additional data can be found in JAMA 
1977;237:2303-10, JAMA 1979;241:579-81 and J Clin Pharmacol 
1980;20:357-63. In the VA trial there was no statistically signifcant 
difference between diuretic + reserpine and diuretic alone; the other 
trials compared the combination with propranolol alone, or the 
combination with propranolol or methyldopa + diuretic. In the VA 
trial the incidence of reserpine-related side effects was quite high. 
Reserpine remains difficult to handle, also because of its extremely 
long half life and unpredictable metabolism. I "grew up" with 
reserpine at the height of the hypertension work of Borst and 
Birkenhager and I was very glad when we got rid of it in clinical use. 
It is not only depression, but also quite serious bleeding gastric 
ulcers.

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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