Effects of carvedilol during exercise

The effect of carvedilol on cardiovascular and physical performance parameters at rest and during exercise was evaluated in an open, uncontrolled study. Assessments were made at rest, at one-half anaerobic threshold (1/2AT), at AT, and at maximal work load (WLmax) before and after 3 weeks of treatment with 12.5 mg carvedilol once daily for 1 week, followed by 25 mg carvedilol once daily for 2 weeks. Ten well-conditioned healthy male volunteers maintained their regular training program during the study, and all completed the study. End-of-study measures of physical performance (time to WLmax, WLmax, and VO2/kg) and behavioral measures (Borg scale) of perceived exertion were unchanged from prestudy values. End-of-study diastolic BP (DBP) at rest and at WLmax was unchanged compared with prestudy values (mean +/- SD; 81.0 +/- 7.38 and 84.4 +/- 4.95 mm Hg, respectively, compared with 82.0 +/- 8.88 and 85.0 +/- 7.07 mm Hg, respectively). Mean +/- SD change from prestudy to end-of-study baseline resting systolic BP (SBP) was a reduction of 11.5 +/- 8.83 mm Hg, and mean +/- SD change from prestudy to end-of-study SBP at WLmax was a reduction of 20.0 +/- 12.25 mm Hg. Mean +/- SD change from prestudy to end-of-study resting heart rate (HR) a reduction of 7.8 +/- 18.45 beats/min, and mean +/- SD change from prestudy to end-of-study HR at WLmax was a reduction of 19.7 +/- 9.24 beats/min. The effect of carvedilol thus represents a combination of reduction in resting systolic BP and HR and attenuation of the exercise-induced changes in these parameters.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)