Cardiovascular effects of a chlorpheniramine/paracetamol combination in hypertensive patients who were sensitive to the pressor effect of pseudoephedrine

Twelve hypertensive patients who were classified as pseudoephedrine-sensitive in a preliminary trial were selected for further investigation with single doses of pseudoephedrine 60 mg, a combination of chlorpheniramine 4 mg with paracetamol 650 mg and placebo. A double-blind, randomised, crossover study design was followed. Treatment with pseudoephedrine produced significant effects on all the four variables measured (systolic, diastolic and mean arterial blood pressure, and heart rate). Effects of the chlorpheniramine/paracetamol combination were found to be not significantly different from placebo. It was concluded that the combination may be useful as a medication for 'colds' in hypertensive patients, since it does not induce cardiovascular effects such as those observed with pseudoephedrine