Exacerbation of Intermittent Claudication by Propranolol

Abstract

To the Editor: A 65-year-old man reported that he had had intermittent claudication for two weeks. Two months earlier, because of classic angina pectoris, he had begun taking propranolol, 20 mg four times a day. After one month, the dosage had been increased to 40 mg four times a day. Two weeks later, he began to have painful tightening of the left calf after walking 300 feet (90 m); the tightening was relieved by five minutes of rest. The symptoms progressed rapidly so that by the time of his visit, severe pain occurred after he walked only 30 to 50 . . .