Using beta-blockers as a second-line therapy in combination with certain anti-hypertensive drugs significantly lowers blood pressure in patients with hypertension, according to a systematic review by Cochrane Researchers. This review also goes some way to explaining the differences in the way that patients respond to beta-blockers and other classes of blood pressure lowering drugs.
It seemed a very narrow article, Sam. In the UK at least, ACE Inhibitors are often the drug of first choice, coupled with a cardiac-specific beta blocker when needed. Calcium channel blockers are used much less here.