BETA-ADRENOCEPTOR BLOCKING-DRUGS IN HYPERTENSION

In spite of considerable differences in their pharmacological properties, all β-adrenoceptor blocking drugs have antihypertensive activity in man. It is therefore generally accepted that the blockade of β-adrenoceptors per se, and not any other unrelated pharmacological effect, is responsible for the effectiveness of these drugs in the treatment of hypertension. Secondary characteristics of β-adrenoceptor blocking drugs such as relative affinity for various β-adrenoceptors, intrinsic sympathomimetic activity, membrane stabilizing action, and ability to enter the central nervous system determine the selection of the β-adrenoceptor blocking drugs in the clinic. The purpose of this review is to compare pharmacological properties of β-adrenoceptor blocking drugs as related to their use in hypertension and to consider the hypotheses on the mechanism of their antihypertensive action.