The effect of high dose oxprenolol on stress-induced physical and psychophysiological variables

The effects of oral oxprenolol (480 mg) and lorazepam (2 mg) on skin conductance, reaction time, critical flicker frequency and self-rating visual analogue scales for anxiety, sedation and concentration were investigated in 6 healthy male volunteers. Oxprenolol exerted a central action similar to lorazepam as shown by a significant lowering of skin conductance and decrease in the number of spontaneous fluctuations during stress, impaired critical flicker frequency and decrease in alertness with reduced concentration.