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Effects of carvedilol during exercise.
E Loefsjoegaard-Nilsson1, B Atmer, M Gunolf
1Cardiovascular Department, Sophiahemmet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology
|January 1, 1992
Summary
Carvedilol reduced resting systolic blood pressure and heart rate in healthy males. While physical performance remained unchanged, the drug attenuated exercise-induced cardiovascular responses.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Exercise Physiology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Carvedilol is a beta-blocker with alpha-blocking activity.
- Its effects on cardiovascular and physical performance in healthy, trained individuals are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of carvedilol on cardiovascular and physical performance parameters at rest and during exercise.
- To assess changes in blood pressure, heart rate, and perceived exertion.
Main Methods:
- Open, uncontrolled study involving 10 healthy male volunteers.
- 3-week treatment with carvedilol (12.5 mg for 1 week, then 25 mg for 2 weeks).
- Assessments at rest, anaerobic threshold (AT), and maximal workload (WLmax) before and after treatment.
Main Results:
- No significant changes in physical performance measures (time to WLmax, WLmax, VO2/kg) or perceived exertion.
- Resting and maximal workload diastolic blood pressure remained unchanged.
- Significant reductions observed in resting systolic blood pressure (11.5 mmHg) and at WLmax (20.0 mmHg).
- Significant reductions observed in resting heart rate (7.8 bpm) and at WLmax (19.7 bpm).
Conclusions:
- Carvedilol effectively reduces resting systolic blood pressure and heart rate in healthy, trained males.
- The drug attenuates exercise-induced increases in systolic blood pressure and heart rate.
- Physical performance and perceived exertion were not adversely affected by carvedilol treatment.