Abstract
Thirty-three patients were admitted to a 22-month study of acebutolol in the treatment of essential hypertension. Four patients were withdrawn, but only two of them for reasons attributable to the treatment.
Twenty-nine patients completed the study, the dose of acebutolol ranging from 400 to 1200 mg/day divided into morning and evening doses. Twenty-four also received diuretics.
Although twenty patients had been receiving antihypertensive medication up to the start of the trial, mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures fell significantly by 16% and 15%, respectively, in the first 6 months, and by 20% and 14% at 22 months. Most patients achieved falls to less than 150/90 mm Hg or falls exceeding 20 mm systolic and 10 mm diastolic in at least 2 out of the 3 assessments at 6, 12 and 22 months.
The treatment was well tolerated except by the two patients who were withdrawn due to side-effects.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.