The Role of Alpha1‐blockers in Combination Therapy for Hypertension

SUMMARY Antihypertensive monotherapy provides adequate blood pressure control in less than 50% of patients with hypertension (BP>140/90 mmHg), especially those with stage 2‐3 disease. This article reviews clinical studies that demonstrate that add‐on therapy with an alpha 1 ‐blocker (doxazosin, terazosin or prazosin) is an effective and well‐tolerated regimen for improving blood pressure control in patients with inadequately controlled hypertension. Furthermore, alpha 1 ‐blockers have therapeutic benefits that go beyond blood pressure management. They have a small but positive effect on the serum lipid profile and they have favourable or benign effects on conditions that frequently coexist with hypertension, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus and benign prostatic hyperplasia. ( Int J Clin Pract 2000; 54(1): 36‐41)