The effects of atenolol (tenormin) and methyldopa on simple tests of central nervous function.

Abstract

1Two identical studies, one comparing the effect of single doses of a new ,B-adrenoceptor blocker, atenolol (Tenormin) (50 mg and 100 mg) and placebo, and the other comparing the effect of single doses of methyldopa (250 mg and 500 mg) and placebo, in healthy volunteers, were carried out. 2 In both studies the effect of the drugs upon reaction time, critical flicker frequency, subjective drowsiness, pulse rate and blood pressure was measured. 3 Atenolol produced no effect upon reaction time, critical flicker frequency or subjective feelings, while methyldopa produced a statistically significant prolongation of reaction time and a statistically significant increase in the subjective sensation of drowsiness. 4 Atenolol produced statistically significant reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure and in pulse rate while methyldopa was without effect. 5 It is concluded that atenolol is unlikely to produce the side effects of sedation or drowsiness.

Central effects of beta‐adrenoceptor antagonists. I‐Performance and subjective assessments of mood.

“…In view of the marginal effects on mood it is of interest that some workers have reported subjective changes including decreased alertness (Lader & Tyrer, 1972;Salem & McDevitt, 1983 while others have failed to obtain feelings of sedation (Bayliss & Duncan, 1975, Levander & Gillner, 1982File & Lister, 1985). In the present studies an anxiolytic effect of propranolol (40 mg) and reduced ability to concentrate with propranolol (80 mg) were found, and the subjects reported reduced alertness with atenolol.…”

“…Analysis of variance revealed a drug effect on short term memory identified with propranolol and, in a similar way, analysis of subjective assessments suggested changes in mood with propranolol and in alertness with atenolol. These observations, together with the evidence obtained in the same study that both atenolol and propranolol modify the electrical activity of the brain (Nicholson et al, 1988), suggest that, though the P-adrenoceptor In view of the marginal effects on mood it is of interest that some workers have reported subjective changes including decreased alertness (Lader & Tyrer, 1972;Salem & McDevitt, 1983 while others have failed to obtain feelings of sedation (Bayliss & Duncan, 1975, Levander & Gillner, 1982File & Lister, 1985). In the present studies an anxiolytic effect of propranolol (40 mg) and reduced ability to concentrate with propranolol (80 mg) were found, and the subjects reported reduced alertness with atenolol.…”

Rapid Screening of Blood-Brain Barrier Penetration of Drugs Using the Immobilized Artificial Membrane Phosphatidylcholine Column Chromatography

“…Of these, β-estradiol, caffeine, chlorpromazine, clonidine, desipramine, ibuprofen, imipramine, progesterone, promazine, propranolol, and testosterone were classified in the literature as "high brain penetration" (CNS+) drugs and aldosterone, atenolol, cefuroxime, cimetidine, corticosterone, enalapril, hydrocortisone, lomefloxacin, loperamide, nadolol, piroxicam, and timolol as "low brain penetration" (CNS-) drugs. 6,11,23,[29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38] These literature classifications were based on the measurement of the rate by which the drug enters the brain, the blood-brain distribution under steady state, or the pharmacological activity directly linked to brain penetration. The pKa and PAMPA effective permeability (P e ) values were used as reported in literature.…”

Effects of Oral Atenolol and Propranolol on Blood Pressure, Heart Rate and Plasma Cyclic Adenosine 3’:5’-Monophosphate in Borderline Hypertensive Patients

“…Although both beta-blockers reduced cAMP levels, ate nolol did so to a much lesser extent. The two drugs not only differ on their blocking actions but also on their capacity to traverse the blood-brain barrier, atenolol being incapable of doing so [3], Accordingly, because of its greater range of action, propranolol is more ef fective than atenolol in abating cAMP levels.…”