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Once-daily acebutolol and atenolol in essential hypertension: double-blind crossover comparison
Insights
Acebutolol and atenolol effectively lower blood pressure in essential hypertension. Acebutolol demonstrated comparable efficacy to atenolol but with fewer side effects and less impact on heart rate.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Essential hypertension is a common cardiovascular condition requiring effective management.
- Beta-blockers are a cornerstone therapy for hypertension, with several agents available.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the efficacy and tolerability of acebutolol versus atenolol in patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension.
- To assess the impact of both drugs on blood pressure and heart rate.
Main Methods:
- A double-blind, crossover study design was employed with 33 patients.
- Patients received either acebutolol (400 mg once daily) or atenolol (100 mg once daily) for 8 weeks.
Main Results:
- Both acebutolol and atenolol significantly reduced mean arterial blood pressure (12% and 11%, respectively).
- Heart rate was significantly reduced by both agents, with a greater reduction observed with atenolol.
- Acebutolol showed a lower frequency of side effects (24%) compared to atenolol (45%).
Conclusions:
- Acebutolol is as effective as atenolol in treating mild to moderate essential hypertension.
- Acebutolol offers a potentially better tolerability profile and a less pronounced effect on heart rate compared to atenolol.
Abstract:
Acebutolol was compared to atenolol in 33 patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension (diastolic blood pressure greater than 95 mm Hg) with the use of a double-blind crossover study design. At 8 weeks of treatment, acebutolol, 400 mg once daily, and atenolol, 100 mg once daily, produced similar significant (p less than 0.01) reductions in average mean arterial blood pressure (12% and 11%, respectively) from baseline. Average heart rate at 4 weeks was also significantly reduced (p less than 0.01) from baseline (acebutolol, 14.8%; atenolol, 18.3%); the reduction with acebutolol, however, was significantly less (p less than 0.05) than that seen with atenolol. Both agents produced similar effects during exercise, and serum drug determinations showed acebutolol to be rapidly metabolized. Acebutolol appeared to be better tolerated: the frequency of side effects with acebutolol (24%) was less than with atenolol (45%). Acebutolol is as effective as atenolol in mild to moderate essential hypertension. Acebutolol appears to be better tolerated and to have a lesser effect on heart rate than atenolol.