Summary
The effect of doxazosin, an a,-adrenoceptor blocking drug, on blood pressure, sensitivity to insulin and serum lipids has been evaluated in 14 hypertensive, non-insulin dependent diabetic patients. The dose was titrated individually upwards from 1 mg until the diastolic blood pressure was below 90 mm Hg, side-effects precluded further dosage increase or the maximum daily dose of 16 mg was achieved.
After 12 weeks of treatment (mean doxazosin dose 5.6 ± 5.1 mg daily), the supine and standing diastolic blood pressure of the patients had declined by about 7 mmHg, whereas their systolic blood pressure and heart rate were not significantly changed. The metabolic clearance rate of glucose increased from 2.35 to 3.37 ml - min−1 - kg−1 during treatment, suggesting improved sensitivity to insulin. Fasting plasma glucose was 11.9 mmol·1−1 before and 10.9 mmol·l−1 after doxazosin therapy (NS). Serum electrolytes and lipids did not change significantly but serum uric acid decreased from 305 to 281 μmol · 1−1
Doxazosin may be a useful alternative for the treatment of hypertension in NIDDM patients.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bergman RN, Finegood DT, Ader M (1985) Assessment of insulin sensitivity in vivo. Endocrine Rev 6: 45–86
Black HR (1990) The coronary artery paradox: the role of hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance and implications for therapy. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol 15 [Suppl 5]: S26-S38
DeFronzo RA, Simonson D, Ferrannini E (1982) Hepatic and peripheral insulin resistance: a common feature of type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) and type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus. Diabetologia 23: 313–319
DeFronzo RA, Ferrannini E (1991) Insulin resistance. A multifaceted syndrome responsible for NIDDM, obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Diabetes Care 14: 173–194
Ferrari P, Rosman J, Neuner N, Shaw S, Riesen W Weidmann P (1991) Postsynapticα 1-blockade with terazosin does not modify insulin sensitivity in nonobese normotensive subjects. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol 18: 106–110
Ferriere M, Lachkar H, Richard J-L, Bringer J, Orsetti A, Mirouze J (1985) Captopril and insulin sensitivity. Ann Intern Med 102: 134–135
Heine RJ, Bilo HJG, Meer J van der, Veen EA van der (1986) Sequential infusions of glucose and insulin at prefixed rates: a simple method for assessing insulin sensitivity and insulin responsiveness. Diabetes Res 3: 453–461
Heine RJ, Home PD, Poncher M, Orskov H, Hammond V, McCulloh AJ, Harming I, Alberti KGMM (1985) A comparison of 3 methods for assessing insulin sensitivity in subjects with normal and abnormal glucose tolerance. Diabetes Res 2: 113–120
Jauch K-W Hard W, Guenther B, Wicklmayr M, Rett K, Dietze G (1987) Captopril enhances insulin responsiveness of forearm muscle tissue in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Eur J Clin Invest 17: 448–454
Kawai Y, Powell A, Arinze IJ (1986) Adrenergic receptors in human liver plasma membranes: predominance of beta,- and alpha,-receptor subtypes. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 62: 827–832
Lehtonen A (1990) Lowered levels of serum insulin, glucose and cholesterol in hypertensive patients during treatment with doxazosin. Curr Ther Res 47: 278–284
Lithell HOL (1991) Effect of antibypertensive drugs on insulin, glucose and lipid metabolism. Diabetes Care 14: 203–209
Nankervis A, Proietto J, Aitken P, Harewood M, Alford F (1982) Differential effects of insulin therapy on hepatic and peripheral insulin sensitivity in type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes. Diabetologia 23: 320–325
Pollare T, Lithell H, Selinus I, Berne C (1988) Application of prazosin is associated with an increase of insulin sensitivity in obese patients with hypertension. Diabetologia 31: 415–420
Pollare T, Lithell H, Berne C (1989a) A comparison of the effects of hydrochlorthiazide and captopril on glucose and lipid metabolism in patients with hypertension. N Engl J Med 321: 868–873
Pollare T, Lithell H, Selinus I, Berne C (1989b) Sensitivity to insulin during treatment with atenolol and metoprolol: a randomised double blind study of effects on carbohydrate and lipoprotein metabolism in hypertensive patients. Br Med J 298: 1152–1157
Pollare T, Lithell H, Mörlin C, Prantare H, Hvarfner A, Ljunghall S (1989c) Metabolic effects of diltiazem and atenolol: results from a randomized, double-blind study with parallel groups. J Hypertens 7: 551–559
Rosen SG, Clutter WE, Shah DS, Miller JP, Bier DM, Cryer PE (1983) Direct a-adrenergic stimulation of hepatic glucose production in human subjects. Am J Physiol 245: E616-E626
Shen D-C, Shieh S-M, Fuh M-T, Wu D-A, Chen Y-DI, Reaven GM (1988) Resistance to insulin-stimulated-glucose uptake in patients with hypertension. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 66: 580–583
Welborn TA, Breckenridge A, Rubinstein AH, Dollery CT, Fraser TR (1966) Serum insulin in essential hypertension and in peripheral vascular disease. Lancet 1: 1336–1337
Westheim A, Koss A, Sivertssen E (1986) Hemodynamic effects at rest and during exercise in long-term treatment with prazosin in chronic congestive heart failure. Acta Med Scand 219: 449–453
Young RA, Brogden RN (1988) Doxazosin. A review of its pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties and therapeutic efficacy in mild or moderate hypertension. Drugs 35: 525–541
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Huupponen, R., Lehtonen, A. & Vähätalo, M. Effect of doxazosin on insulin sensitivity in hypertensive non-insulin dependent diabetic patients. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 43, 365–368 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02220610
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02220610