Pharmacology of guanfacine.

1. The pharmacological effects of the centrally acting antihypertensive drug guanfacine are reviewed. 2. The drug lowers systemic blood pressure in hypertensive rats dose‐dependently after oral application of 0.3‐5 mg/kg. 3. Evidence is presented that guanfacine produces its antihypertensive action by a specific stimulation of central alpha‐ adrenoceptors. 4. Certain pharmacological differences between clonidine and guanfacine are discussed.