Atenolol once‐daily in hypertension.

Abstract

1 The effect of atenolol, a cardioselective beta adrenoceptor antagonist, was studied in a double‐blind crossover trial in twenty‐one carefully selected hypertensive outpatients. Each patient received atenolol (50 mg/day, 100 mg/day, 200 mg/day) and placebo according to a randomized sequence in a once‐daily dose. Wash‐out periods on a matching placebo were included between the treatment periods. 2 The effect of lying, standing and post‐exercise blood pressure of atenolol 50 mg once‐daily was not significantly different from atenolol 100 or 200 mg once‐daily. The reduction in lying and standing blood pressure was approximately 23/16 and 22/18 mm Hg from levels at the end of a run‐ in period on matching placebo of 167/108 and 162/112 mm Hg respectively. 3 The study shows that atenolol is an effective hypotensive agent in a once‐daily dose.