SERTRALINE DOES NOT ALTER THE BETA-ADRENERGIC BLOCKING ACTIVITY OF ATENOLOL IN HEALTHY MALE-VOLUNTEERS

A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, crossover study was co nducted to determine the effect of sertraline on the beta-adrenergic b locking activity of atenolol in 10 healthy male volunteers. Method: To assess the existence of any possible pharmacodynamic interaction betw een sertraline and atenolol, the effect of sertraline and placebo on t he dose of intravenous isoproterenol required to increase heart rate b y 25 beats per minute (bpm; chronotropic dose(25) [CD25]) and the chan ge in heart rate during exercise in atenolol-treated subjects were det ermined. Results: The mean CD25 of isoproterenol was 2.00 mu g after a dministration of placebo plus atenolol 50 mg and 2.03 mu g after admin istration of sertraline 100 mg plus atenolol 50 mg. The mean heart rat e during exercise testing decreased by 29 bpm after sertraline plus at enolol administration and by 31 bpm after placebo plus atenolol admini stration. Analysis of variance indicated no statistically significant treatment or sequence effects. Only 1 subject experienced an adverse e vent-a mild headache after administration of sertraline plus atenolol. No clinically significant electrocardiograph changes were observed af ter sertraline or placebo administration. Conclusion: The results of t his study demonstrate that sertraline does not alter the beta-blocking activity of atenolol.