An evaluation of debrisoquine and mefruside in the treatment of hypertension in African and Indian patients

Summary

A double-blind, crossover trial was carried out in 20 hypertensive patients (9 African and II Indian) to compare the effectiveness and tolerance of treatment with debrisoquine, mefruside, and a fixed-dose combination of the two drugs with placebo. Patients were treated initially with placebo for 2 weeks before being crossed-over to treatment for 4 weeks with each of the other regimens. Maximum daily dosages of the active drugs were 20 mg debrisoquine and 25 mg mefruside. Satisfactory hypotensive control, i.e. diastolic blood pressure > 90 mmHg, was not achieved in any of the treatment periods. The best hypotensive response was obtained in African patients on mefruside. The combination of debrisoquine and mefruside did not produce the expected synergistic response. Few side-effects were reported. The failure of an adequate hypotensive response to debrisoquine in African and Indian patients could be due to ugenetic difference in the hydroxylation of debrisoquine.

Key Words::

• Debrisoquine
• mefruside
• antihypertensive agents
• drug combinations
• hypertension