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Antihypertensive effect of propranolol at rest and during exercise.
Author(s) -
Leenen FH,
Boer P,
Mees Dorhout EJ
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
british journal of clinical pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.216
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1365-2125
pISSN - 0306-5251
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2125.1983.tb01511.x
Subject(s) - propranolol , blood pressure , chronotropic , medicine , metoprolol , plasma renin activity , heart rate , endocrinology , diastole , renin–angiotensin system
In eight patients with normal‐renin, moderate hypertension, the antihypertensive effects of increasing doses of propranolol (80, 160, 320 and, in three patients, 640 mg/day, each dose for 2 weeks) were evaluated at rest and during exercise in relation to the degree of beta‐ adrenoceptor blockade induced. A significant decrease (11 +/‐ 4 mm Hg) in systolic blood pressure was found after propranolol 80 mg/day. Systolic blood pressure showed a fall of 16 +/‐ 4 mm Hg after 160 mg/day, but no further decrease was measured at higher doses. Diastolic blood pressure showed a significant drop (by 9 +/‐ 3 mm Hg) after propranolol 80 mg/day; a decrease by 12 +/‐ 3 mm Hg after propranolol 160 mg/day, but no further decreases at higher doses. PRA and the rise of systolic blood pressure during bicycle exercise were suppressed to a similar extent by propranolol 80 ng and the higher doses. At 80 mg daily exercise tachycardia was reduced by 18%, at 160 mg by 28%, and at the 2 higher doses by 32%. These results suggest that relatively low doses of propranolol (80‐160 mg daily) induce most of the antihypertensive effect of propranolol not only at rest but also during exercise. Complete cardiac chronotropic beta‐adrenoceptor blockade may not be necessary for the full hypotensive effect.