Summary
The effects of chronic (3 mg/day for 1 week) administration of the vasodilator drug
prazosin on several metabolic and endocrine variables were evaluated in 12 hypertensive
patients, 6 with normal and 6 with abnormal oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). After
1 week prazosin treatment there were no significant modifications in fasting plasma
glucose, serum free fatty acids (FFA), cholesterol, triglycerides, insulin (IRI),
growth hormone (GH), prolactin (PRL) and gastrin levels; oral glucose tolerance and
IRI response to glucose were unchanged in normal subjects, while in chemical diabetics
there was a significant improvement in glucose tolerance and a slight increase in
IRI secretion.
Therefore, the untoward metabolic effects of acute prazosin administration, i.e. increased
plasma glucose and serum FFA, are not sustained during chronic treatment, which may
even improve glucose metabolism in diabetic patients.
Key-Words
Prazosin
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Alpha-Adrenergic Blockade
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Glucose Metabolism
