DOUBLE-BLIND CROSSOVER COMPARISON OF PINDOLOL, METOPROLOL, ATENOLOL AND LABETALOL IN MILD TO MODERATE HYPERTENSION

1 This study was designed to compare in a double‐blind randomized crossover trial, atenolol, labetalol, metoprolol and pindolol. Considerable differences in dose (atenolol 138 +/‐ 13 mg daily; labetalol 308 +/‐ 34 mg daily; metoprolol 234 +/‐ 22 mg daily; and pindolol 24 +/‐2 mg daily were required to produce similar antihypertensive effects. 3 The overall incidence of side‐effects was similar with atenolol, metoprolol and pindolol but was slightly less with labetalol. Sleep disturbances and abnormal dreaming patterns were most frequent with pindolol. 4 There was a significantly greater fall in pulse rate during atenolol and metoprolol treatment periods. 1979 The British Pharmacological Society