title: A comparative study of methyldopa and labetalol in the treatment of hypertension.
abstract: 1 Twenty patients with essential hypertension completed a double-blind, dose-tritrated, cross-over comparison of methyldopa and labetalol. 2 Average lying BPs (systolic/diastolic) were reduced by 28/15 mmHg with methyldopa and by 23/15 mmHg with labetalol. 3 Average standing BPs (systolic/diastolic) were reduced by 29/14 mmHg with methyldopa and by 29/15 mmHg with labetalol. 4 Both lying and standing heart rates were reduced with labetalol. 5 It is concluded that the antihypertensive properties of labetalol and methyldopa are similar but that larger patient populations are needed to study the relative incidence of subjective adverse effects.
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Sanders
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Gales
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Rawlins
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Routledge