Angina pectoris: effective therapy once daily

Twenty-nine anginal patients were randomly allocated to nadolol once daily, or propranolol four times daily and titrated to optimum dosage over 14 weeks under double-blind conditions: all patients then continued on nadolol once daily. Efficacy was assessed by numbers of anginal attacks and nitroglycerin (GTN) usage, and exercise EKG on the bicycle ergometer. Results showed the two drugs to have similar effects regarding anginal attacks and GTN consumption, but nadolol produced better performance in exercise time. In the extended treatment period on nadolol, the improvements over baseline readings were maintained. No serious side-effects or laboratory abnormalities were encountered.