An office-based primary care trial of pindolol ('Visken') in essential hypertension

A large, open, multi-centre study was performed by physicians in general practice to evaluate the efficacy and tolerance of pindolol (10 to 20 mg per day) in the treatment of patients with essential hypertension. The records of 7324 patients who completed the 6-week protocol with pindolol alone or in combination with a diuretic were analyzed by computer. Substantial reductions in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure were obtained in the majority of patients regardless of age, sex or race. No difference in blood pressure response was found between patients taking diuretics concurrently and those on pindolol alone. Side-effects were generally not troublesome and a trend toward a reducing incidence of side-effects was noted in all patients as the duration of therapy increased. Black patients tended to complain of fewer side-effects than did white patients.