Abstract
Twenty-one outpatients with essential hypertension were treated with propranolol for nine weeks following a placebo period of at least two weeks. Dosage was increased from 200 mg. up to 1 Gm. per day orally, if satisfactory control of pressure was not achieved with the lower dose. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were reduced significantly at rest as well as before and after graded exercise. However, during exercise systolic pressure only was reduced. This reduction was correlated closely with a decreased resting cardiac output; calculated total peripheral resistance increased or did not change. No changes were observed in blood chemistry which could be attributed to propranolol treatment. Cardiac failure occurred in two patients and diarrhea in one patient. Propranolol lowers blood pressure by reducing cardiac output both at rest and during exercise. There is no dose dependence above 200 mg. per day. The use of propranolol as the sole therapeutic agent should be limited to hypertensive patients with high cardiac output.
Published Version
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