Ineffectiveness of beta-adrenergic blockers on ventilatory response to carbon dioxide

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Abstract
The effects of the .beta. adrenoceptor blockers atenolol, metoprolol, pindolol and propranolol on the ventilatory response to CO2 rebreathing were determined in a double-blind randomized manner. Healthy, male, nonsmoking subjects [8] received cumulative doses of each drug over a 10-h period. The effects of each drug on heart rate and CO2 sensitivity were determined at intervals of 2 h and were related to plasma concentrations of each drug. Maximum reduction of exercise heart rate was achieved with all 4 .beta. blockers and plasma concentrations were in the usual therapeutic range for these drugs. There was considerable intersubject and within-subject variability in ventilatory responsiveness to inhaled CO2, but no alterations in central sensitivity to increasing CO2 concentrations were discussed.