The safety and efficacy of once-daily dilevalol in patients with mild hypertension: a placebo-controlled study.

Dilevalol is a stereoisomer of labetalol, with a unique combination of beta-adrenergic blocking effects and selective beta 2-agonist activity. The safety and efficacy of dilevalol in patients with systemic hypertension were evaluated in a placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized study. After a 4-week placebo run-in period, patients with mild hypertension (supine diastolic blood pressure of 95-105 mmHg) were randomized to receive either placebo (n = 14) or increasing doses of dilevalol (n = 15), 100-800 mg, once daily, to achieve normalization of pressure and/or a reduction of supine diastolic pressure of greater than or equal to 10 mmHg. This was followed by a 4-week maintenance phase. Compared with placebo, dilevalol, 200-800 mg/day, lowered supine and standing systolic and diastolic blood pressures significantly, while causing a modest reduction in heart rate. The drug was well tolerated without evidence of orthostasis. Dilevalol, in doses of 200-800 mg/day, is a safe and effective drug for the treatment of patients with mild hypertension.