Doxazosin (Carduran)--a research survey

4,260 patients were included in an open surveillance study simultaneously with the introduction of doxazosin for treatment of essential hypertension in Norway. The main aim of the study was to systematically collect information on side effects and events in patients being treated with a new drug. Th...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inTidsskrift for den Norske Lægeforening Vol. 113; no. 6; p. 693
Main Authors Stokke, H P, Fauchald, P, Holme, I, Rugstad, H E, Christophersen, B O, Stokke, O
Format Journal Article
LanguageNorwegian
Published Norway 28.02.1993
Subjects
Aged
Cholesterol, HDL - blood
Doxazosin - adverse effects
Doxazosin - therapeutic use
Drug Evaluation
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Hypertension - blood
Hypertension - drug therapy
Hypertension - mortality
Male
Middle Aged
Norway
Norway
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Summary:4,260 patients were included in an open surveillance study simultaneously with the introduction of doxazosin for treatment of essential hypertension in Norway. The main aim of the study was to systematically collect information on side effects and events in patients being treated with a new drug. The effect on blood pressure, heart rate and lipids was also recorded. The study lasted for one year. 21 deaths were reported. 53% of the patients reported side effects and/or events. The frequency of side effects was particularly high during the first month of treatment. No new types of side effects were found. The initial higher frequency of reported side effects referred to all organ systems, and was also of the same magnitude in the different systems. A relation was found between certain cardiac side effects and/or events and cessation of previous medication upon starting treatment with doxazosin. The study shows that certain safety precautions should be observed in patients with coronary heart disease and heart failure. In three patients, doxazosin should be used only in combination with more specific treatment. Special caution should be observed when changing the specific basic treatment. Doxazosin had a very favourable antihypertensive effect. A drop in cholesterol and triglycerides was observed, as expected. The HDL-cholesterol value declined, which was unexpected. The results are difficult to interpret, owing to lack of a control group. On the other hand, the study shows how high blood pressure is being treated with drugs in ordinary practice. The authors discuss the methodology of surveillance studies.
ISSN:0029-2001