Clinical experience with moxonidine

Summary

Moxonidine is an imidazoline receptor modulator, specific for the I₁-imidazoline receptor. The stimulation of imidazoline receptors represents a new mode of antihypertensive action to inhibit peripheral alpha-adrenergic tone by a central mechanism. Acute hemodynamic studies reveal moxonidine produces an acute fall of blood pressure and systemic vascular resistance. Heart rate, cardiac output, stroke volume, and pulmonary artery pressures are not affected. Left ventricular end-systolic and diastolic volumes are reduced. Ejection fraction is not significantly affected but 6-month studies showed a regression of left ventricular hypertrophy. After oral administration the maximum concentration of moxonidine is reached in about 1 hour, and elimination half-life is 2.5 hours, prolonged by renal insufficiency. The antihypertensive effect lasts longer than would be expected from the half-life. Open studies with moxonidine have revealed falls between 20 and 29 mmHg systolic, and between 10 and 19 mmHg diastolic blood pressure. In the largest study, over 12 months in 141 patients, most patients were controlled by 0.2mg daily (58%) or 0.2 mg b.i.d. (38%). Moxonidine has been compared with representatives from each important class of antihypertensive drugs. In a crossover trial of clonidine in 20 patients, blood pressure control was similar, but the incidence of tiredness and dry mouth was less on moxonidine, as was the total number of patients experiencing side effects, 85% versus 30% (p<0.01). In a larger parallel group study of moxonidine (n=122) and clonidine (n=30), blood pressure control was similar, but the overall incidence of side effects was less on moxonidine. In comparative studies of moxonidine with atenolol, ACE inhibitors, dihydropyridine calcium antagonists, hydrochlorothiazide, and α₁ blockade, the blood pressure control with representatives of these various classes of drugs was similar to moxonidine.