Stereoselective release of (S)-atenolol from adrenergic nerve endings at exercise

In-vitro studies have shown that atenolol, a beta-blocking agent, is stereoselectively taken up by and released from adrenergic nerve endings by membrane depolarisation. To investigate the potential importance of these findings, blood samples were taken at rest and after exercise testing from 10 patients (mean [SE] age 60 [3] years) receiving long-term treatment with racemic atenolol. At rest, mean plasma concentration of (R)-atenolol was higher than that of (S)-atenolol (ratio 1.14, p less than 0.01), but after exercise there was a stereoselective increase in (S)-atenolol concentration, which changed the ratio to 0.66 (p less than 0.01). Since (S)-atenolol but not (R)-atenolol causes clinically relevant beta-blockade, our findings may have importance for the management of patients receiving beta-blocking drugs.