The duration and extent of cardiac beta-blockade and their relationship to propranolol pharmacokinetics were assessed in nine healthy volunteers. Each subject received 160 mg of regular propranolol (R), 160 mg of sustained-release propranolol (SR) and no drug (control), both as single doses and once daily for 7 days. After single doses and at steady-state, both products caused a decrease in exercise heart rate for at least 24 h, compared to control. The time course of effect was similar to the time course of serum propranolol concentration. The oral clearance of propranolol decreased from single doses to steady-state for both R and SR; however, the difference achieved statistical significance only for R. These changes were reflected in mean accumulation ratios (AUC steady-state 0-24 h/AUC single dose 0-infinity) of 1.49 and 1.68 for R and SR, respectively. The pharmacokinetic data are consistent with a decrease in intrinsic hepatic clearance of propranolol, leading to an increase in bioavailability at steady-state. Despite a two-fold difference in the bioavailability of R and SR, there was no difference in the area under the effect-time curve at steady-state.