Minoxidil in combination with a beta-adrenergic blocker and a diuretic as an antihypertensive in patients refractory to available medications.

Minoxidil in combination with a beta-adrenergic blocker and a diuretic was used in 12 male hypertensive patients who did not respond to or who developed unpleasant side-effects from the available medications. Blood pressure was effectively controlled in 9 of the 12 patients at the end of the 14-week planned treatment programme. The main side-effects were weight gain in all the patients, oedema of the legs in 3 patients, hirsutism in 3 patients and palpitations in 2 patients. A disturbing side-effect was pericarditis with congestive cardiac failure in 1 patient. Minoxidil, in spite of its serious side-effects, is a valuable hypotensive agent in the treatment of male hypertensive patients who do not respond to or who develop unpleasant side-effects from the available hypotensive medications.