Clinical pharmacology of propranolol.

ONE OF THE more significant advances in cardiovascular therapeutics in the past decade has been the introduction of 3-adrenergic blocking drugs. This review is prompted by the expanding indications and more widespread use of this group of drugs. Although several compounds have been developed, propranolol was the first to gain wide acceptance and remains the only one available for general use in the United States. We shall therefore concentrate on the clinical pharmacology of propranolol and make only passing reference to some of the other drugs which, in time, will undoubtedly become available.