title: Enhanced exercise noradrenaline concentrations during propranolol treatment: a limiting factor in cardiac beta-adrenoceptor blockade.
abstract: Treatment with beta-adrenoceptor blocking drugs may result in augmented plasma concentrations of noradrenaline during exercise. The effect of propranolol on exercise heart rate and its relationship to plasma concentrations of propranolol and noradrenaline were examined in 10 hospitalized volunteers following treatment with propranolol, in doses of 80 mg and 320 mg daily. Responses to submaximal treadmill exercise during propranolol treatment and following discontinuation of the higher dose were compared to pre-drug and post drug placebo values. Exercise noradrenaline was increased by 67% over baseline values by treatment with the 320 mg daily dose of propranolol; this increment was present at 4 h and returned to baseline by 16 h after drug administration. Augmentation of exercise noradrenaline was correlated with plasma propranolol concentrations; the threshold concentration for this effect was 10-fold higher than the threshold for reduction in exercise heart rate. The effect of propranolol on heart rate was blunted in relation to the augmentation of exercise noradrenaline (P less than 0.001). These relationships suggest that, in patients taking high doses of propranolol, drug induced augmentation of plasma levels of noradrenaline during exercise may have physiologic importance. Enhanced effects on adrenergic receptors could have clinical relevance in certain groups of patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston.
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Hurwitz
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Webb
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Walle
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Gourley
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cobb
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D015444:Exercise; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood*; D011433:Propranolol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; D011433:Propranolol; D009638:Norepinephrine