Observations with metoprolol in elderly patients
Szabó, R.; Kohán, M.; Gyetvai, A.; Szöllösi, K.
Therapia Hungarica 35(4): 222-226
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0133-3909 PMID: 3447308 Document Number: 288813
Metoprolol (Betaloc) was administered in daily doses of 2 .times. 50- to 3 .times. 100 mg in three cases as monotherapy, in the other cases combined with other hypotensives for controlling hypertension of elderly patients. In 19 of the 21 patients the systolic blood pressure dropped by at least 20 mmHg and in 14 patients the diastolic pressure by not less than 10 mmHg. In two cases bradycardia developed as a side-effect necessitating the discontinuance of treatment. Orthostatic hypotension was observed in three patients taking prazosine and methyldopa simultaneously with Betaloc. Betaloc favourably influenced supraventricular arrhythmias of various types in six of the seven cases. Considering individual tolerance and the abovementioned two unwanted effects, metoprolol was found useful for the depression of high blood pressure even in elderly patients (also in combination with other drugs). The heart rate moderating effect of metoprolol in supraventricular tachyarrhythmias is an advantage from the haemodynamic aspect too.