Article Text
Articles
Metolazone for hypertension?
Abstract
Metolazone (Metenix 5 - Hoechst) is a quinazoline sulphonamide diuretic related to quinethazone. We discussed its diuretic properties four years ago (when the trade name was Zaroxolyn)1 and concluded that it was probably more effective than thiazides and had a longer duration of action than frusemide. Metolazone is now also promoted specifically as an antihypertensive diuretic. It is claimed that metolazone is a long-acting ‘extremely effective’ antihypertensive; if this is true it would have an advantage over the thiazide diuretics, which also lower arterial pressure.2