[Confirmation of safety and therapeutic effect of betaxolol in the treatment of mild and moderate hypertension in general medical practice].

Data on office blood pressure (BP) and pulse rate as well as information on adverse effects were collected from 148 patients with mild and moderate hypertension during 12 week treatment with long acting lipophilic selective beta-adrenoreceptor blocker betaxolol (20 mg/day). BP normalization was achieved in 72.5% and in 16.8% of patients BP was lowered more than 10% without achievement of target values. Pulse rate lowering by more than 15 beats/min occurred in 40.3% of patients. Combined therapy was required in 15.2% of patients. Adverse effects specific for the class of beta-adrenoblockers caused cessation of betaxolol therapy in 3 patients. The drug was found ineffective in 4 patients (2.7%). Thus we confirmed high clinical efficacy and good safety and tolerability of betaxolol in patients with mild and moderate hypertension.