title: Beta-blocker therapy with metoprolol in the hyperventilation syndrome.
abstract: 16 patients suffering from a hyperventilation syndrome were treated with metoprolol 2dd 100 mg and an identical placebo in a double-blind, cross-over trial. Before therapy and after metoprolol and placebo therapy a ventilatory response to CO2 was taken, VC and FEV1, a hyperventilation provocation test, blood gas values, and the subjective experiences of the patients were documented. The ventilatory response to CO2 was described in terms of decrease or increase of ventilation: before therapy ventilation decreased in 10 out of 16 patients, after metoprolol ventilation decreased in 3 of 16 patients (p less than 0.01). The end tidal PCO2 increased with a mean of 3.86 mm Hg (p = 0.0005) after metoprolol as compared to placebo. No differences were found in respiratory frequency or depth, base excess, provocation test. It is concluded that the cardioselective beta-blocker metoprolol is a useful drug in the therapy of the hyperventilation syndrome.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D006985:Hyperventilation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008790:Metoprolol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000652:urine; D010919:Placebos; D011412:Propanolamines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014797:Vital Capacity
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos; D011412:Propanolamines; D008790:Metoprolol; D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine