Rilmenidine: a clinical overview

Rilmenidine is an antihypertensive agent with selectivity for I1 imidazoline receptors that acts both centrally by reducing sympathetic overactivity and in the kidney by inhibiting the Na+/H+ antiport. Rilmenidine provides antihypertensive efficacy comparable with that of diuretics, β-blockers, calcium channel blockers, and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. Experience from trials and clinical practice highlights rilmenidine’s clinical and metabolic acceptability in hypertensive populations, including those at special risk because of old age, renal impairment, diabetes mellitus, or dyslipidemia. In the at-risk hypertensive, rilmenidine reduces left ventricular hypertrophy to a similar degree to other reference agents. New studies show a significant improvement in glucose metabolism in metabolic syndrome patients treated with rilmenidine, and a significant reduction in microalbuminuria during rilmenidine treatment of hypertensive type 2 diabetics. Thus the efficacy/tolerance ratio of rilmenidine supports its role as a first-line antihypertensive option for all groups of hypertensive patient, with specific advantages in some at-risk populations.