Beta‐adrenoceptor blockade and psychic stress in man. A comparison of the acute effects of labetalol, metoprolol, pindolol and propranolol on plasma levels of adrenaline and noradrenaline.

Abstract

1 A random double-blind study was performed in healthy volunteers. The immediate effects of three different 3-adrenoceptor blocking agents, metoprolol, pindolol and propranolol, on the plasma concentrations of adrenaline and noradrenaline were compared in a situation of pleasant psychic stimulation during a television-game of tennis. The immediate effects of labetalol in a group of patients with arterial hypertension were studied in a similar experimental situation. 2 During psychic stress the plasma concentration of noradrenaline rose significantly by 85% after placebo, by 95% after labetalol, by 63% after metoprolol and by 55% after propranolol. After pindolol the noradrenaline concentration remained unchanged. 3 During psychic stress the plasma concentration of adrenaline rose significantly by 135% after labetalol, by 110% after metoprolol and by 83% after propranolol. After pindolol and placebo the adrenaline concentration remained unchanged. 4 The present results are taken to indicate that the intrinsic sympathomimetic activity possessed by pindolol prevents the rise in plasma noradrenaline normally seen during psychic stress. It is suggested that P-adrenoceptor blockers with strong intrinsic sympathomimetic effect reduce the release of catecholamines during psychic stress.

Influence of two β‐adrenoceptor antagonists, propranolol and pindolol, on cold adaptation in the rat

“…This is in accordance with previous observations in which elevated plasma NA levels were obtained during propranolol treatment in man (Trap-Jensen et al, 1982). On the other hand, pindolol did not cause any reduction in the cold-induced rise in NA, although this drug has been shown to prevent the rise in NA during mental stress (Trap-Jensen et al, 1982).…”

Direct and indirect blood pressure in normotensive and hypertensive subjects

“…From our present analysis of plasma components, PRA and adrenalin were slightly better correlated with A-MBP than with I-MBP. Why this occurred only in the placebo group and not in the metoprolol-treated hypertensive group may be because catecholamines accelerate their own clearance through beta-adrenergic mechanisms, with alterations in plasma adrenalin during beta blockade [28]. Also, PRA levels are influenced by beta blockade.…”

Does Media Use Have a Short-Term Impact on Cognitive Performance?

“…Previous and current research supports the assumption that certain media contents may lead to bodily stress reactions like those described above. Several studies show that, for example, heart rate (Calvert & Tan, 1994; Griffiths & Dancaster, 1995; Ravaja, Saari, Salminen, Laarni, & Kallinen, 2006), noradrenaline (Goldstein, Eisenhofer, Sax, Keiser, & Kopin, 1987; Trap-Jensen et al, 1982), and cortisol levels (Berger et al, 1987; Hébert, Béland, Dionne-Fournelle, Crête, & Lupien, 2004) can be elevated while watching television or playing video games, especially those with emotionally disturbing and violent contents (Maass, Wolf, & Lohaus, 2010). Besides physiological stress, the subjectively experienced stress is also higher for arousing and violent contents than for nonviolent contents (Maass et al, 2010).…”