Favorable Effects of Acebutolol on Exercise Performance and Angina in Men with Coronary Artery Disease

Acebutolol, a relatively cardioselective β-adrenergic blocking drug, was administered to 20 men with coronary artery disease and angina. A three month double-blind cross-over (placebo and acebutolol) design was used following a 12-week placebo phase and a six-week dose-titration phase. During the cross-over phase, acebutolol (400 mg in 19 men and 300 mg in one, orally three times per day) increased the duration of treadmill exercise (placebo, 6.8 ± 0.5 min [average ± SEM]; acebutolol, 8.1 ± 0.6 min; P −2 ) was decreased both at rest (placebo, 105.0 ± 4.0; acebutolol, 84.0 ± 3.0; P