Reduced peripheral vascular symptoms in elderly patients treated with alpha-methyldopa--a comparison with propranolol

A multicentre study of 6-10 weeks duration was performed in 60 ambulant hypertensive patients aged over 60 years to compare the efficacy of methyldopa and propranolol with particular reference to the occurrence of cold extremities and sleep disturbances. Blood pressure was effectively controlled by both drugs being reduced from a mean of 180/108 mmHg to 161/93 with methyldopa and 180/108 to 162/94 with propranolol. More patients treated with methyldopa (74%) achieved the target diastolic blood pressure of 95 mmHg or below compared with those treated with propranolol (58%). Side effects were more frequent in the propranolol group necessitating the withdrawal of four patients from the study. Only one patient on methyldopa was withdrawn. The incidence of cold extremities was significantly greater with propranolol. The occurrence of sleep disturbances was similar in both groups. In this group of elderly patients methyldopa was better tolerated than propranolol.