Standardized stress and hypertension: comparison of effect of propranolol and methyldopa

1 Using a standardized form of mental stress, 21 patients with idiopathic hypertension were investigated before and after treatment with placebo (n=8), propranolol (n=7) or methyldopa (n=6). 2 Blood pressure was satisfactorily controlled in the propranolol and methyldopa groups but only the propranolol group showed modification of the pressor response to stress testing. 3 These results suggest that propranolol may provide more uniform control of blood pressure than methyldopa in patients with essential hypertension.