Monotherapy of stable angina with nicardipine hydrochloride: double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study.

Abstract

The effect of nicardipine hydrochloride, a calcium-channel blocking agent, was studied in 46 patients with stable angina in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, repeated cross-over protocol, using a 30 or 40 mg dose of nicardipine or placebo three times a day. Mean resting heart rate and blood pressure did not change significantly with 30 mg nicardipine; heart rate increased from 81 +/- 10 to 88 +/- 13 beats min-1, systolic blood pressure decreased from 129 +/- 18 to 119 +/- 16 mmHg, and diastolic blood pressure from 81 +/- 12 to 74 +/- 11 mmHg (P less than 0.01 for all three variables) with a 40 mg dose. Using a treadmill exercise protocol, mean exercise duration increased from 5.4 +/- 1.8 to 6.0 +/- 1.8 min (P less than 0.01) with 30 mg nicardipine, and from 5.8 +/- 1.7 to 6.6 +/- 1.9 min (P less than 0.01) with 40 mg. Time to onset of angina increased from 4.6 +/- 1.9 to 5.2 +/- 1.7 min (P less than 0.05) with 30 mg and from 5.1 +/- 1.8 to 5.7 +/- 1.8 min (P = NS) with 40 mg. Mean anginal frequency and sublingual nitroglycerin consumption were low during the cross-over placebo period and did not change significantly during therapy with nicardipine. Non-cardiac side-effects were mild and required the withdrawal of only one patient from the study. However, during nicardipine therapy four patients had unstable angina and two developed a non-Q wave myocardial infarction. Of these patients, five were receiving a beta-adrenergic blocker that was discontinued prior to the study.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

• Authors: M Gheorghiade, D A Weiner, S Chakko, J N Lessem, M D Klein
• Journal: European heart journal (Eur Heart J) Vol. 10 Issue 8 Pg. 695-701 (Aug 1989) ISSN: 0195-668X [Print] England
• PMID: 2792112 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Nicardipine

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Angina Pectoris (drug therapy)
• Blood Pressure (drug effects)
• Chronic Disease
• Double-Blind Method
• Electrocardiography
• Exercise Test
• Heart Rate (drug effects)
• Humans
• Middle Aged
• Nicardipine (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Random Allocation