Clinical Research Directory

Inclusion Criteria: * Males and females of all races between 18 and 60 years of age * Obesity defined as body mass index between 30-40 kg/m2 * Insulin resistance defined as homeostasis model assessment 2 insulin resistance (HOMA2-IR) score \>2.2 * Hypertension defined by two or more properly measured seated blood pressure readings \>130/85 mmHg, or by use of anti-hypertensive medications. This blood pressure cutoff will allow us to include subjects with pre-hypertension. * Able and willing to provide informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Pregnancy or breast-feeding * Current smokers or history of heavy smoking (\>2 packs/day) * History of alcohol or drug abuse * Morbid obesity (BMI \> 40 kg/m2) * Previous allergic reaction to study medications * Evidence of type I or type II diabetes (i.e. fasting glucose \>126 mg/dl, use of anti-diabetic medications) * Cardiovascular disease other than hypertension such as myocardial infarction within 6 months prior to enrollment, presence of angina pectoris, significant arrhythmia, congestive heart failure (LV hypertrophy acceptable), deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, second or third degree heart block, mitral valve stenosis, aortic stenosis, or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy * History of serious cerebrovascular disease such as cerebral hemorrhage, stroke, or transient ischemic attack * History or presence of immunological or hematological disorders * Impaired hepatic function \[aspartate amino transaminase (AST) and/or alanine amino transaminase (ALT) \> 2.0 x upper limit of normal range\] * Impaired renal function (serum creatinine \>1.5 mg/dl) * Anemia (hemoglobin \<13.5 g/dl in males or \<12.5 g/dl in females) * Treatment with serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) or norepinephrine transporter (NET) inhibitors * Treatment with phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors * Treatment with anticoagulants * Treatment with chronic systemic glucocorticoid therapy (more than 7 consecutive days in 1 month) * Treatment with any investigational drug in the 1 month preceding the study * Inability to give, or withdraw, informed consent * Other factors which in the investigator's opinion would prevent the subject from completing the protocol (i.e., clinically significant abnormalities on clinical, mental examination or laboratory testing or inability to comply with protocol)