Rilmenidine

Rilmenidine is a prescription medication for the treatment of hypertension. It is marketed under the brand names Albarel, Hyperium, Iterium and Tenaxum.

Form and composition

Each tablet contains 1.544 mg rilmenidine dihydrogen phosphate, an amount equivalent to 1 mg of rilmenidine base.

Mode of action

Rilmenidine, an oxazoline compound with antihypertensive properties, acts on both medullary and peripheral vasomotor structures. Rilmenidine shows greater selectivity for imidazoline receptors than for cerebral alpha2-adrenergic receptors, distinguishing it from reference alpha2-agonists.

Indications

Hypertension.

Contraindications

Severe depression, severe renal failure (creatinine clearance <15 ml/min), as a precaution in the absence of currently available studies.

Warning

Therapy should never be interrupted suddenly; the dosage should be reduced gradually.

Precautions