ANTIHYPERTENSIVE EFFICACY OF PROPRANOLOL GIVEN TWICE DAILY

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 121  (6) , 737-740
Abstract
The therapeutic efficacy of propranolol in 4 and 2 daily doses was compared in 63 treated hypertensive patients in a multicenter trial. After 3 mo. of a stable diastolic blood pressure while receiving propranolol 4 times a day the patients were switched to a twice-a-day regimen, the drug being given at 800 h and 2000 h, with the same total daily dose, for 3 more mo. Blood pressures and heart rates were measured at 800, 1200, 1600 and 2000 h at 4-wk intervals. There were no significant changes in mean blood pressure after the change to the twice-a-day regimen, but some patients reported new side effects. Compliance appeared to be unaffected.