Chronic beta-adrenoceptor blockade with oxprenolol causes elevation of plasma noradrenaline levels, as compared with placebo, despite a significant fall in blood pressure and pulse rate. 2. The plasma noradrenaline concentration is not influenced by the frequency of administration or the formulation of the drug. 3. Plasma noradrenaline levels are not correlated with the plasma concentration of the drug. 4. The changes in plasma noradrenaline concentrations support a peripheral rather than central mechanism of action of beta-adrenoceptor blockers in man.
