Simplified antihypertensive therapy with pindolol retard.

36 out of 52 patients with essential hypertension, whose blood pressure was not normalized with pindolol 15 mg per day, were treated with 30 mg per day for four to six weeks. Pindolol was administered in random order, either as 15 mg twice daily or as one 30 mg retard tablet once daily. Blood pressure was lowered from mean pretreatment levels of 174/111 mmHg to 149/98 mmHg by 15 mg b.d., and to 145/97 mmHg by 30 mg retard. In five patients diurnal variations in blood pressure and plasma pindolol levels were determined. At all times during the day blood pressure was at least well controlled by 30 mg retard as by 15 mg b.d. Plasma concentration maxima were similar with both forms, but a higher concentration was maintained for a longer time after the retard tablet. Pindolol 30 mg was well tolerated and the incidence of side effects was lower than during treatment with 15 mg b.d. Thus, patients requiring high doses of pindolol for control of hypertension can safely and conveniently be treated with a single tablet of 30 mg pindolol retard.