Rapid Blood Pressure Control With Minoxidil

The study found that minoxidil is an effective antihypertensive agent in humans, with a smooth reduction in systolic and diastolic blood pressure when added to a fixed dose of a diuretic and propranolol. Sodium retention was observed with minoxidil administration despite diuretic administration, but the tendency for sodium retention was no longer present during the follow-up study. Minoxidil therapy is associated with an initial increase in plasma renin activity, but a concomitant increase in plasma aldosterone values was not observed. The reason for the dissociation between these two components of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system under these circumstances is unclear.