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It is common to prescribe beta blockers and to obtain a submaximal exercise test soon after a patient has a myocardial infarction; therefore, it is important to know whether the beta blockers affect the results of the stress test. In a randomized trial, 36 patients who had had infarctions between six and 13 days earlier received either metoprolol or placebo; after initial testing, each patient was then given the other regimen and retested two to three days later.
Metoprolol significantly decreased resting and exercising heart rate and blood pressure. It also had a significant effect on exercise-test results: exercise-induced ST-segment depression of 1 mm or more occurred in 12 patients while they were taking placebo and in four patients whil…