A topic in Clinical Evidence summarizes the results of 12 small (10–24 people) and brief (2–4 weeks) RCTs. Propranolol (most frequently), metoprolol, atenolol, pindolol, sotalol, nicardipine and placebo were compared with placebo. All RCTs found that propranolol improved symptoms compared with placebo (p<0.05). Four of the RCTs found that propranolol increased the proportion of people classified as "responders" (ARRs 69%, 80%, 64%, 32%). Small trials on other beta-blockers provided only weak evidence that beta-blockers other than propranolol are more effective than placebo.
The following decision support rules contain links to this evidence summary: