Clinical Evaluation of Diazoxide

Abstract

Forty-six hypertensive patients have received diazoxide intravenously. Three hundred milligrams (one ampule) administered rapidly undiluted resulted in a 27 per cent average reduction in mean arterial pressure in 1 to 2 minutes. During the next 3 to 5 minutes the arterial pressure increased gradually to a 15 per cent average reduction as compared to the control. The average duration of diazoxide in these patients was 4.7 ± 1.7 hours. No signs of postural hypotension, cerebral ischemia, or collapse were noted. At the peak of hypotensive action there was a 41 per cent average reduction in total peripheral resistance. Repeated doses of diazoxide in both nonpregnant patients with acute hypertension and pregnant patients with toxemia adequately controlled the arterial pressure and were not associatetd with the development of drug resistance. The standard dosage of 300 mg. (one ampule), the immediate onset of action and the moderately long duration of action, the maintenance of cardiac output, the lack of significant side effects, and the fact that it can be administered repeatedly without the development of drug resistance make diazoxide administered intravenously the ideal therapy for acute hypertension.

The Control of Hypertension in Labour

“…This has not been our experience in the present study. Finnerty et al (1963) reported similar findings to our own with diazoxide. Where the drug was used in cases of pre-eclamptic toxaemia of pregnancy adequate control of the blood pressure was obtained and was not as-sociated with the development of drug resistance.…”

Pharmacologic Treatment of Hypertensive Urgency in the Outpatient Setting: A Systematic Review

“…Six vasodilators were studied across nine trials. Urapidil and diazoxide were the most commonly studied (three 25 , 38 , 39 and two trials, respectively 40 , 41 ). Fenoldopam, 17 hydralazine, 14 nitroglycerin, 26 and nitroprusside 17 were each evaluated once.…”

Inhibitory Effect of Chlorothiazide on Glucose Utilization by Aorta

“…A close congener of chlorothiazide, diazoxide, although it is a renal sodium retainer, is a potent antihypertensive agent, having a direct action resulting in peripheral vasodilation (3). Both chlorothiazide and diazoxide alter glucose utilization in man and experimental animals.…”