Sudden withdrawal of propranolol in patients with angina pectoris.
- M G Myers and
- G Wisenberg
Abstract
On 51 of 53 occasions, sudden withdrawal of propranolol from patients with angina pectoris produced no substantial adverse effects. Two patients experienced a recurrence of unstable angina with one man sustaining a fatal myocardial infarction ten days after propranolol withdrawal. These observations suggest that patients with previous unstable angina may be dependent upon beta-adrenoceptor blockade. Sudden cessation of propranolol for short periods may be preferable to tapering the dosage if prolonged periods of sub-optimal beta-adrenoceptor blockade are to be avoided.
