Pinacidil, a new vasodilator, in the treatment of patients with moderate to severe hypertension.

A new vasodilator drug, pinacidil, N'-cyano-N-4-pyridyl-N'-1, 2,2-trimethylpropylguanidine, was studied in an open trial in 15 patients with moderate to severe hypertension. Four patients received pinacidil monotherapy, and in 11 patients it was used with a diuretic or a beta-blocker. In all but one patient normotension was achieved with a mean daily pinacidil dose of 46.