Oxyfederine and Propranolol--a Controlled Trial in Angina Pectoris

1 A double-blind-crossover randomised trial was performed to compare the effects of oxyfedrine (maximum dose 32 mg three times daily), propranolol (maximum dose 120 mg three times daily) and placebo in 30 patients with chronic stable angina pectoris. Assessment was by means of symptom level, ECG responses to graded exercise and haematological and biochemical investigation. 2 Oxyfedrine and propranolol resulted in similar significant improvements in symptom level (P < 0.05 in both cases), and ST index (propranolol P < 0.02; oxyfedrine P < 0.05). Neither drug produced any significant changes in haematologaical or biochemical investigations and only infrequent minor side effects were noted. 3 These results indicate that oxyfedrine is a safe and well-tolerated drug with an efficacy comparable with that of propranolol in the treatment of patients with angina pectoris.