Prazosin in hypertensive patients with chronic bronchitis and asthma: a brief report.

The effects of prazosin therapy were recently evaluated in ambulatory patients with essential hypertension and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Both the ability of prazosin to control high blood pressure and its effects on pulmonary function were observed. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were significantly reduced at the end of the maintenance period. Of the 17 patients completing the trial, 82.4 percent attained a target diastolic blood pressure of less than 90 mm Hg, and 70.6 percent attained a diastolic reduction of greater than 10 mm Hg. Results of six-hour pulmonary function tests showed no significant differences after dosing with placebo or with prazosin. There was a significant increase in the number of patients who noted increased wheezing, but these patients did not have any increase in cough or sputum symptoms.