title: Cardiovascular responses to metipranolol and timolol eyedrops in healthy volunteers.
abstract: 1. Intraocular pressure and cardiovascular responses to metipranolol 0.1% and 0.3% and timolol 0.25% eyedrops were measured in a balanced single dose placebo-controlled crossover study in eight healthy volunteers aged 34-58 years. 2. Timolol 0.25% and metipranolol 0.3% reduced intraocular pressure throughout the 6 h period of observation to a similar extent. Metipranolol 0.1% was marginally less effective, significantly reducing pressure up to 4 h only. 3. No drug treatment significantly altered resting heart rate or blood pressure. Timolol 0.25% significantly reduced exercise tachycardia (P less than 0.05), an effect which was not shown by metipranolol 0.1 or 0.3%. Exertional pain in the legs occurred more frequently after timolol 0.25% and metipranolol 0.3% than after metipranolol 0.1% or placebo eyedrops. 4. Octan-1-ol/pH 7.4 buffer distribution coefficients at 37 degrees C were found to be: metipranolol 5.19, timolol 0.84, indicating that metipranolol has an approximately 6-fold greater lipid solubility. 5. It is concluded that, by comparison with timolol, metipranolol in eyedrop concentrations up to 0.3%, despite its greater lipid solubility, reaches concentrations in the systemic circulation which are less likely to affect the heart.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmacological Sciences and Toxicology, United Medical School, Guy's Hospital, London.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Bacon
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Brazier
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D014290:Metipranolol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D005082:Physical Exertion; D011412:Propanolamines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013999:Timolol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D011412:Propanolamines; D013999:Timolol; D014290:Metipranolol