Double-blind comparison of metoprolol, alprenolol, and oxprenolol in hypertension.
A double-blind comparison of the beta-blockers metoprolol, alprenolol and oxprenolol was carried out to evaluate their antihypertensive effect and tolerability. 105 patients with previously untreated hypertension entered the trial and 72 completed it. Side-effects were infrequent and were never the reason for drop-out. All three drugs caused a statistically significant reduction in blood-pressure at the lower of the two doses used during a dose-finding period. At the higher dose employed in this period, metoprolol caused a significantly greater reduction in diastolic blood-pressure than did alprenolol or oxprenolol. All three drugs caused a significant reduction in heart rate. During the following period, the beta-blockers were supplemented if necessary with hydrochlorothiazide. This was required less frequently in the metoprolol group than in the other two groups.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000526:Alprenolol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008790:Metoprolol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010096:Oxprenolol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011412:Propanolamines / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D011412:Propanolamines; D010096:Oxprenolol; D000526:Alprenolol; D008790:Metoprolol