Oxprenolol on the sympathetic drive during working stress

Epinephrine and norepinephrine urinary excretion was evaluated in 35 healthy confectioner workers on piece-wage (PW) and in 35 metal workers on the assembly-line (AL) before and after oral administration of oral oxprenolol (and identical placebo on double blind conditions) in order to evaluate the effect of beta-blockade on the adrenosympathetic overactivity due to psychological working stress. When the workers performed their job without any drug and when they were on placebo conditions, urinary levels of epinephrine and norepinephrine rose significantly; whereas when they were given oxprenolol the values of two catecholamines were normal. It could be argued that this study might lead to beta-blocking drugs introduced in circumstances of high scores of psychological stress due to some modern types of work.