Effects of sustained-release verapamil on 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure and on pressor response to isometric exertion in hypertensive patients.
The antihypertensive effect of a drug should be present not only at rest, but also during usual daily activities and pressor stimuli. In our study, we tested the impact of a new formulation of sustained-release (SR) verapamil (240-mg tablets), given once or twice daily, on 24-h ambulatory blood pressure (BP) and on pressor response to isometric exercise (handgrip). Fourteen mildly to moderately essential hypertensive patients were included in a single-blind placebo-controlled trial. The mean titrated dose of verapamil required to normalize office BP was 430 +/- 28 mg/day. Mean 24-h waking (7 a.m.-11 p.m.) and sleeping (11 p.m.-7 a.m.) blood pressures were significantly lower after verapamil than after placebo. The absolute levels of BP achieved at peak of handgrip (30% of maximal voluntary contraction for 3 min) were significantly reduced by verapamil with respect to placebo. However, due to the lower starting values, the pressor increment to the isometric work was not significantly modified by the active treatment. In conclusion, SR verapamil seems to provide a blood pressure lowering effect during all times of the day. It attenuates the surges in BP associated with handgrip exercise.
Cardillo
C
C
Istituto di Patologia Speciale Medica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy.
Musumeci
V
V
Mores
N
N
Folli
G
G
D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D015444:Exercise; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors; D014700:Verapamil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D014700:Verapamil