Antihypertensive and hemodynamic effects of oxprenolol versus propranolol

Oxprenolol is an experimental beta adrenergic blocker with intrinsic sympathomimetic activity. To compare the effects of long-term administration of oxprenolol on hypertension and hemodynamics with the effects of propranolol, 20 patients with essential hypertension were divided in a double-blind random manner into two 10-patient groups and given placebo for 2 wk, followed by equipotent doses of oxprenolol or propranolol for 5 wk and by placebo for another 2 wk. Right heart cardiac catheterization was performed at the beginning and at the end of the 5-wk beta blockade. Heart rates and blood pressures fell markedly with both agents, although standing heart rate was lowered more by propranolol than by oxprenolol. Plasma renin activity was much lower after beta blockade with either drug. There was no correlation between decreases in blood pressure and renin activity. Although during the stress of repeat cardiac catheterization heart rates remained significantly lower than control, the intra-arterial pressures were not altered significantly by oxprenolol or propranolol, nor was there significant change in pulmonary pressure, vascular resistance, or cardiac output. Thus oxprenolol closely parallels the effects of propranolol in essential hypertension. The negative chronotropic action of both drugs is more marked than their antihypertensive activity.