Comparative effects of adimolol, labetalol and propranolol on heart rate and blood pressure in man.

The cardiovascular effects of adimolol, a new, potent, long acting beta-adrenoceptor blocking drug were investigated in three studies. In the first study blood pressure and heart rate were measured in five male volunteers before and at 2, 4, 6, 8, 24, 32, 48, 72 and 96 h after single oral doses of adimolol. All doses of adimolol reduced supine, standing and exercise heart rates in a dose dependent manner. The maximum effect ranged from 18% following 25 mg to 29% following 600 mg and all doses showed an effect at 96 h (range 3.5-17.2%). In the second study the effects of adimolol, 25 and 400 mg, labetalol, 200 and 800 mg, propranolol 40 mg and placebo were compared on supine and standing heart rate and blood pressure and on exercise heart rate before and at 2, 4, 6 and 8 h after single oral doses. The exercise heart rate was significantly reduced at all times following adimolol 25 and 400 mg, labetalol 800 mg and propranolol 40 mg. At 2 h all the drugs significantly reduced standing systolic blood pressure. In the third study, 4 h after single oral doses of adimolol 400 mg, labetalol 400 mg and propranolol 40 mg six subjects received serial 4 min infusions of phenylephrine. The blood pressure was measured after each infusion. Labetalol 400 mg significantly shifted the blood pressure dose-response curve to the right. There was no difference between propranolol 40 mg and adimolol 400 mg. These studies show that adimolol is a potent, long acting beta-adrenoceptor blocking drug without evidence of alpha-adrenoceptor blockade in man.