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In this study the effects of a single daily dose (average 8.9 mg) of doxazosin (an α-adrenergic blocker) given at night were evaluated in 111 patients with mild hypertension. Patients were studied first on no medication, and a second time after being treated for up to 16 weeks with doxazosin. Blood pressure was measured by noninvasive ambulatory monitoring at the beginning and end of the study. There was a sustained reduction of both systolic and diastolic pressure throughout the day and night, but the greatest reduction occurred in the morning hours. Since the peak treatment effect was later than predicted from previous pharmacokinetic studies, it is suggested that the timing of the peak effect may depend on the prevailing level of α-adrenergic tone, as well as on the pharmacokinetics of the drug. Am J Hypertens 1994;7:844r–847
Pickering et al. (Tue,) studied this question.