COMPARISON OF METOPROLOL AND PINDOLOL IN THE TREATMENT OF MILD TO MODERATE HYPERTENSION - DOUBLE-BLIND CROSSOVER STUDY

Matched doses of metoprolol and pindolol were administered to 31 hypertensive outpatients in a doubleblind randomized crossover trial, which was designed to compare the antihypertensive efficacy and pattern of side effects of the two drugs. Twenty-nine patients completed the study. A tenfold difference in dose (25 ±2 mg/day of pindolol and 234 ±22 mg/day of metoprolol) was required to produce a similar antihypertensive effect. There was a significantly greater fall in pulse rate during metoprolol treatment. Complaints of dry mouth, mild Raynaud's phenomenon, and eye discomfort were more frequent during treatment with metoprolol; and sleep disturbances and abnormal dreaming patterns were more frequent during treatment with pindolol.