Carvedilol in hypertension.
Ambulatory intra-arterial blood pressure recording provides a precise and objective method for the study of antihypertensive drugs and their effects on blood pressure. Application of this technique has shown that beta-adrenoceptor-blocking drugs are only effective during the day when the subject is active. They have little effect on the early-morning rise in blood pressure, which is the time of greatest sympathetic nervous activity. Addition of a diuretic to the beta blocker produces a uniform reduction in blood pressure, which is sustained throughout the 24-hour cycle. Carvedilol is a beta blocker with alpha-blocking activity and its profile of action is similar to that of a combination of a beta blocker and a diuretic. The possession of both properties in a single molecule is advantageous.
Raftery
E B
EB
Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow, Middlesex, UK.
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D015924:Blood Pressure Monitors; D002227:Carbazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077261:Carvedilol; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011412:Propanolamines / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D002227:Carbazoles; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D011412:Propanolamines; D000077261:Carvedilol