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Effect on finger tremor of withdrawal of long‐term treatment with propranolol or atenolol.
Author(s) -
Wharrad HJ,
Birmingham AT,
Wilson CG,
Williams EJ,
Roland JM
Publication year - 1984
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.1365-2125.1984.tb02470.x
Subject(s) - atenolol , propranolol , placebo , medicine , heart rate , anesthesia , cardiology , blood pressure , alternative medicine , pathology
The effect of the withdrawal of long‐term beta‐adrenoceptor blockade on pulse rate and finger tremor was studied in 27 patients who had been treated for 2 years following an uncomplicated myocardial infarction with either atenolol, propranolol or placebo. During treatment, pulse rate was significantly lower in patients treated with propranolol or atenolol compared with placebo. Compared with the response in the placebo group the mean increase in tremor on withdrawal of propranolol was statistically significant for postural and for work tremor in both hands. A significant increase in tremor on withdrawal of atenolol occurred only in the postural position and in a narrow frequency band (left hand, 7‐11 Hz; right hand, 7‐9 Hz). The differences in the effect on tremor of withdrawal of treatment with propranolol or atenolol in doses which produced similar reductions in heart rate, emphasise the beta 2 classification of peripheral receptors associated with normal muscle tremor but do not exclude the involvement of beta 1‐ adrenoceptors.