Comparative trial of perhexiline maleate and oxprenolol in patients with angina pectoris.

A random single-blind study of oxprenolol against perhexiline has been undertaken in angina pectoris. Both drugs were effective in treatment (P less than 0.01) but perhexiline was better than oxprenolol (P less than 0.05), 12 of the 14 patients preferring perhexiline. Offset against this was the greater incidence of side effects with perhexiline, including one patient who later developed peripheral neuropathy. Despite the greater efficacy of perhexiline, it is suggested that side effects should preclude its routine prescription as a drug of first choice in angina pectoris. It should remain of value in the special situations of resistant angina and angina with heart failure or bronchospasm, when its use should be carefully monitored for these side effects.