Celiprolol in the treatment of hypertension: a comparison with propranolol

A randomized double-blind study compared the antihypertensive efficacy of single daily oral doses of celiprolol 200 or 400 mg to twice daily doses of propranolol 40 or 80 mg in 58 patients with uncomplicated essential hypertension (supine diastolic blood pressure range 95-114 mm Hg). Before treatment there was no significant difference in patient characteristics or in the average systolic or diastolic blood pressures or heart rates between the two groups. Sixty-five percent of the celiprolol group and 56% of the patients randomized to propranolol achieved blood pressure control on the lowest dose of each drug. The mean reductions in the systolic and diastolic pressures at the end of the 4 week titration period were -14/-13 mm Hg for the celiprolol group and -11/-12 mm Hg for the propranolol group. Continued treatment with the same doses of celiprolol and propranolol for a further 8 weeks resulted in blood pressure reductions of -18/14 mm Hg and -8/-9 mm Hg, respectively. In 64% of patients taking celiprolol and in 54% of those taking propranolol the prospective target reduction in supine diastolic blood pressure was achieved, namely a reduction to below 90 mm Hg or a reduction lower after propranolol than after celiprolol; celiprolol reduced the heart rate by an average of 6 bt/min and propranolol by 13 bt/min after 12 weeks treatment (p 0.01). Adverse reactions assessed by patient-volunteered information were similar in character and frequency for both drugs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)