Ventilatory response to hypercapnia in normal subjects after propranolol, metoprolol and oxprenolol.

Steady state ventilatory response curves to CO2 were taken in 8 normal subjects in control situations and taking clinical doses of propranolol, oxprenolol and metoprolol in a double-blind crossover design. Furthermore, the expiratory peak flow was measured. No effect was found of any of the beta-blockers on the resting ventilatory parameters, the sensitivity to CO2 or the peak flow values.