A comparison of timolol and propranolol in essential hypertension.

The antihypertensive efficacy of a new beta-adrenergic receptor inhibiting compound, timolol (MK-950), was evaluated using two treatment protocols: double-blind timolol vs. placebo treatment and double-blind timolol vs. propranolol (10 and 12 patients, respectively). These studies indicate that timolol significantly and safely reduced arterial pressure in mild to moderately severe essential hypertensive patients. The reduction in mean arterial pressure with timolol was equivalent to the pressure reduction with propranolol when the doses of 30 and 120 mg. per day, respectively, were used.