Effect of atenolol on ventilatory and cardiac function in asthma

Abstract

The effects on ventilatory and cardiac function of atenolol, a new cardioselective beta-adrenoceptor blocking agent, were compared with those of practolol in a double-blind trial in 12 patients with asthma. Both drugs impaired ventilatory function-atenolol insignificantly and practolol significantly. Atenolol was if anything more cardio-selective than practolol. Neither drug interfered signifi- cantly with the bronchodilator response to inhaled isoprenaline. Atenolol is suitable for use in patients for whom practolol would formerly have been chosen because of its cardioselectivity. © 1976, British Medical Journal Publishing Group. All rights reserved.