Effect of a twelve-hour hiatus in propranolol therapy on exercise tolerance in patients with angina pectoris.
To determine whether propranolol can be administered twice daily without any loss of antianginal effect, we studied nine men receiving long-term propranolol therapy for stable angina pectoris. Each patient performed bicycle exercise to the point of angina on two consecutive mornings. By means of double-blind placebo-propranolol administration before the test, the study created a situation whereby on one day the exercise took place 12 hours after the last dose of propranolol, and on the other day 1 1/2 hours after a dose. Despite markedly lower blood levels of propranolol on the day that exercise was performed 12 hours after the last dose, exercise time to angina was nearly identical on the 2 days. We conclude that long-term therapy with propranolol for angina pectoris can be administered on a twice daily basis with no loss of effectiveness.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D005082:Physical Exertion; D011433:Propranolol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood
D011433:Propranolol