Atenolol reduces blood pressure and FEV in normal subjects

Pulmonary effects of long-term beta 2-blockade in healthy subjects: comparative study of metoprolol OROS

The effects on airway response of metoprolol OROS (oral osmotic) and three other long-acting beta-adrenoceptor blockers were studied. This was a placebo-controlled, randomized, five-period, single-blind, crossover trial in 15 healthy volunteers. Bronchial beta-blockade was estimated as the displacement of the salbutamol bronchodilator response of specific airway conductance (SGAW) measured by whole-body plethysmography. Metoprolol OROS (14/190 mg), slow-release (SR) metoprolol (200 mg), atenolol (100 mg), long-acting (LA) propranolol (160 mg), and placebo were given once daily for 7 days. Inhaled salbutamol was administered at peak drug levels in cumulative doses of 12.5 to 800 micrograms on day 5 and in a single dose of 400 micrograms on day 7. On day 5, salbutamol induced significant increases in SGAW in each treatment group. SGAW increased after the single dose of salbutamol on day 7 in all groups and then declined steadily. The highest values were found after placebo and metoprolol OROS, with smaller increases after SR metoprolol, atenolol, and LA propranolol, the latter showing the smallest increase. Therefore, it would appear that under steady-state conditions, beta 2-bronchial receptors are least blocked by metoprolol OROS, followed by SR metoprolol, atenolol, and LA propranolol.

The comparative beta-adrenoceptor blocking effects of penbutolol, atenolol and sustained-release metoprolol in healthy volunteers

The effects of penbutolol (40 mg), atenolol (100 mg) and sustained-release metoprolol (metoprolol SA) (200 mg) upon heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) at rest and during bicycle ergometer exercise, have been compared in 12 healthy young men using a double-blind crossover design. Measurements of each drug's effect were made before and at 3, 10 and 24 h after a single dose, and again at 24 h after the last of seven consecutive daily doses. Resting HR and systolic BP were reduced to an equivalent extent by all three drugs. During the third minute of exercise, the effects of penbutolol and atenolol upon HR and systolic BP were consistently similar and greater than those of metoprolol SA.