Combination ergotamine and caffeine improves seated blood pressure and presyncopal symptoms in autonomic failure.

ABSTRACT: Severely affected patients with autonomic failure require pressor agents to counteract the blood pressure fall and improve presyncopal symptoms upon standing. Previous studies suggest that combination ergotamine and caffeine may be effective in the treatment of autonomic failure, but the efficacy of this drug has not been evaluated in controlled trials. Therefore, we compared the effects of ergotamine/caffeine on seated blood pressure and orthostatic tolerance and symptoms in 12 primary autonomic failure patients without history of coronary artery disease. Patients were randomized to receive a single oral dose of placebo, midodrine (5-10 mg), or ergotamine and caffeine (1 and 100 mg, respectively) in a single-blind, crossover study. Blood pressure was measured while patients were seated an

SUBMITTER: Arnold AC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4109567 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature