Chlorothiazide in the Treatment of Hypertension

Abstract

Results of a study at the Mayo Clinic showed that chlorothiazide used alone had a mild hypotensive effect which adequately controlled the blood pressure of 35 per cent of a group of mildly hypertensive patients. Its greatest usefulness was in enhancing the potency of other hypotensive drugs, particularly ganglion-blocking agents, thus permitting lower doses of agents which cause unpleasant symptoms. Chlorothiazide produced few side effects other than depletion of serum potassium and elevation of blood urea, neither of which ordinarily causes symptoms.