In an open study increasing doses of a retarded tablet formulation of pinacidil were given twice daily for four weeks to 9 patients with untreated essential hypertension (WHO I-II). In all patients a decrease in diastolic blood pressure to below 100 mmHg, or a fall exceeding 15 mmHg, was obtained 2 h after tablet intake (p less than 0.02), but in only two patients was the effect maintained after 10 hours (n.s.). At a mean serum concentration of 100 ng/ml 2 h after pinacidil 30 mg, the mean blood pressure had decreased by 14 and 12.7 mmHg in the supine and erect positions, respectively (p less than 0.05). In contrast, mean blood pressure 10 h after the same dose was unchanged, when the mean serum concentration was 47.5 ng/ml. No change in heart rate was observed. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic investigations showed a tendency towards a more gradual and longer lasting antihypertensive effect and serum concentration-time curve after the retarded tablet than the previous tablet. Pinacidil 40 mg in the retarded tablet reduced mean blood pressure and increased heart rate for at least 8 h. There was a linear correlation between the serum concentration and the change in mean blood pressure, and between the changes in mean blood pressure and in heart rate. There was no indication of tachyphylaxis. A serum level of 50 ng/ml of pinacidil appeared to be the minimal effective concentration. The side effect consisted of fluid retention, and the body weight increased by 1.0 kg (p less than 0.05); four patients complained of oedema.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)