A comparative study of methyldopa and labetalol in the treatment of hypertension.
1 Twenty patients with essential hypertension completed a double-blind, dose-tritrated, cross-over comparison of methyldopa and labetalol. 2 Average lying BPs (systolic/diastolic) were reduced by 28/15 mmHg with methyldopa and by 23/15 mmHg with labetalol. 3 Average standing BPs (systolic/diastolic) were reduced by 29/14 mmHg with methyldopa and by 29/15 mmHg with labetalol. 4 Both lying and standing heart rates were reduced with labetalol. 5 It is concluded that the antihypertensive properties of labetalol and methyldopa are similar but that larger patient populations are needed to study the relative incidence of subjective adverse effects.
D001772:Blood Cell Count; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004983:Ethanolamines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007741:Labetalol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008750:Methyldopa / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D013997:Time Factors
D004983:Ethanolamines; D008750:Methyldopa; D007741:Labetalol