Seven years on a selective beta-blocker - metoprolol. A long-term study of women with arterial hypertension.

Women with previously untreated arterial hypertension have been followed up during ten years of beta-blocker treatment, first for three years with alprenolol and then for seven years with the selective beta1-blocker metoprolol. During a long-term follow-up, blood pressure levels remained at acceptable levels in all the 24 women studied during the period with alprenolol as well as during the period with metoprolol. Both drugs were well tolerated. In no case had the beta-blocker to be stopped because of side-effects. No changes ascribed to beta-blocker treatment were found when a number of laboratory data were repeatedly studied. Administering the drug b.i.d. seemed preferable to a t.i.d. administration. The majority of the subjects had their blood pressure well-controlled when the drug was administered once a day, and a once-daily regimen could probably be used in most patients with uncomplicated arterial hypertension. However, a few patients have their blood pressures better controlled with a b.i.d. regimen and some patients experienced side-effects when taking the drug once a day; these disappeared when the drug was taken b.i.d. It is therefore concluded that the choice between b.i.d. administration and a one-dose administration should be made individually for each patient.