Acebutolol in mild to moderate hypertension: a double-blind crossover study

The effect of acebutolol (Sectral) was compared with that of placebo in 30 patients with mild to moderate hypertension who were receiving a thiazide diuretic. Ten patients did not complete the study. In the remaining 20 patients, acebutolol (mean dose, 910 +/- 408 mg/day) produced significantly greater reduction both in supine and in erect systolic and diastolic blood pressure over 16 weeks than placebo plus chlorothiazide P less than 0.005). Pulse rate also fell significantly. Four patients did not have a consistent reduction in blood pressure. Acebutolol was found to be an effective hypotensive agent with relatively few side effects.