PINDOLOL (pindolol)


Drug overview for PINDOLOL (pindolol):

Generic name: PINDOLOL (PIN-doe-lol)
Drug class: Beta-Blockers (Systemic)
Therapeutic class: Cardiovascular Therapy Agents

Pindolol is a nonselective beta-adrenergic blocking agent (beta-blocker) possessing intrinsic sympathomimetic activity.

Pindolol is used in the management of hypertension. The drug also has been used in the management of angina+. The choice of a beta-adrenergic blocking agent (beta-blocker) depends on numerous factors, including pharmacologic properties (e.g., relative beta-selectivity, intrinsic sympathomimetic activity, membrane-stabilizing activity, lipophilicity), pharmacokinetics, intended use, and adverse effect profile, as well as the patient's coexisting disease states or conditions, response, and tolerance.

While specific pharmacologic properties and other factors may appropriately influence the choice of a beta-blocker in individual patients, evidence of clinically important differences among the agents in terms of overall efficacy and/or safety is limited. Patients who do not respond to or cannot tolerate one beta-blocker may be successfully treated with a different agent. In the management of hypertension or chronic stable angina pectoris+, many clinicians prefer to use low dosages of a beta1-selective adrenergic blocking agent (e.g., atenolol, metoprolol), rather than a nonselective agent like pindolol, in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

However, selectivity of these agents is relative and dose dependent. Although a beta-blocker with intrinsic sympathomimetic activity (ISA) (e.g., pindolol) does not eliminate sympathetic activity entirely, there is no evidence from well-controlled studies that pindolol is safer in these patients than other nonselective beta-blockers that do not possess ISA. Some clinicians also will recommend using a beta1-selective agent or pindolol (because of its ISA), rather than a nonselective agent, for the management of hypertension or angina pectoris in patients with peripheral vascular disease, but there is no evidence that the choice of beta-blocker substantially affects efficacy.
DRUG IMAGES
  • PINDOLOL 5 MG TABLET
    PINDOLOL 5 MG TABLET
  • PINDOLOL 10 MG TABLET
    PINDOLOL 10 MG TABLET
The following indications for PINDOLOL (pindolol) have been approved by the FDA:

Indications:
Hypertension


Professional Synonyms:
Elevated blood pressure
Essential hypertension
Hyperpiesia
Hyperpiesis
Hypertensive disorder
Systemic arterial hypertension