A clinical and pharmacokinetic evaluation of tolmesoxide in hypertensive patients

The pharmacokinetics, hypotensive effect and tolerability of a new vasodilator, tolmesoxide (T), have been studied in 6 uncontrolled hypertensive patients receiving atenolol and a diuretic. After a 50 mg oral dose mean (± SD) peak plasma concentration of T was 1.13±0.29 µg/ml−1 and occurred 0.79±0.40 h after the dose; mean peak plasma concentration of its sulphone metabolite (M) was 0.37±0.09 µg/ml−1 at 1.92±1.32 h after the dose. Following peak plasma concentrations there was a monoexponential decline in T and M concentrations with half-lives of 2.78±0.77 h and 10.78±7.85 h respectively. There was a linear increase in plasma concentration of T and M during incremental dosing with 50–200 mg t. i. d. During in-patient administration of 600–900 mg T daily (n=6) there was no significant change in blood pressure, pulse rate or body weight. Out-patient administration of 900 mg T daily (n=4) was associated with a significant fall in mean systolic but not diastolic bp (lying −15/+1 mm Hg. standing −25/−8 mm Hg). A further fall was observed in 2 subjects receiving 1200 mg and 1500 mg daily. Supine pulse rate increased (mean ± SD) significantly from 55±5/min to 66±8/min following 900–1500 mg T in 4 out-patients. Severe nausea and other gastro-intestinal side-effects in all subjects receiving 600–900 mg daily eventually necessitated drug withdrawal. In its present from T is not recommended for the treatment of hypertension.