The oral drug Tenserlix® was used for the treatment of hypertension of medium to severe gravity. The drug combined the diuretic agent furosemide and reserpine to reduce high blood pressure. Furosemide is a loop diuretic agent acting via inhibition of the reabsorption of ions (Na+, Cl–, K+) from the cortical thick ascending loop of Henle in the nephron. By this mechanism, the drug increases urinary sodium and water losses. Reserpine is an indole plant alkaloid acting as a potent sympatholytic agent, to reduce blood pressure. The combination of the diuretic drug furosemide and the antihypertensive drug reserpine provided an efficient approach to treat patients with essential hypertension. This drug combination is no longer used today. There are better therapeutic option to treat arterial hypertension. However, furosemide remains largely used to reduce hyponatremia risk in patients after surgery, or to treat specific pathologies (such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia). Reserpine can be used occasionnally, as a treatment for difficult-to-control cases of hypertension, but it may induce a neuroendocrine toxicity.
