title: Antihypertensive activity of alpha-methyldopa on a twice daily regimen in comparison to metoprolol. A multi-centre controlled clinical trial.
abstract: 1. The antihypertensive effects of alpha-methyldopa and metoprolol have been compared in 110 patients (fifty-one males and fifty-nine females) with previously untreated essential hypertension (sixty-eight WHO stage 1 and forty-two WHO stage 2). 2. After 2 weeks of placebo, the patients were randomly allocated to treatment with either of the two drugs: alpha-methyldopa up to 500 mg b.i.d. and metroprolol up to 200 mg b.i.d. for 6 weeks. Periodical clinical, biochemical, haematological, radiological and electrocardiographical measurements were performed. 3. The average reduction in blood pressure produced by the two drugs was comparable. 4. In general, side-effects were few and tolerable: mainly bradycardia in the metoprolol group and dizziness and drowsiness in the alpha-methyldopa group. 5. The plasma renin activity was significantly reduced in the metoprolol but not in the alpha-methyldopa group.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008750:Methyldopa / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008790:Metoprolol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000652:urine; D010919:Placebos; D011412:Propanolamines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012083:Renin / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos; D011412:Propanolamines; D008750:Methyldopa; D012083:Renin; D008790:Metoprolol; D009638:Norepinephrine