title: Antihypertensive effect of slow-release nicardipine. A placebo-controlled cross-over study.
abstract: The magnitude and duration of the antihypertensive effect of slow-release nicardipine (SR-Nicardipine) have been compared with placebo in 36 uncomplicated essential hypertensives (diastolic BP 95 to 115 mm Hg after 1-month placebo washout). According to a double-blind, randomized, cross-over design they received SR-Nicardipine 40 mg b.d. and placebo for 1 month. At the end of each treatment period, blood pressure and heart rate were measured 12 h after the evening dose and 1, 2, 3 and 4 h after the morning dose. SR-Nicardipine significantly reduced systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure at each time after dosing. The absolute decrements peaked 4 h after dosing (-18.3 and -11.7 mm Hg, respectively) and more than 90% of the peak effect persisted 12 h after dosing, both for SBP and DBP. The heart rate was slightly increased by SR-Ni-cardipine. Adverse effects monitored with a check-list occurred in 31% of patients during SR-Nicardipine treatment and in 28% on placebo. Thus, SR-Nicardipine 40 mg b.d. has a maintained and significant antihypertensive effect lasting up to 12 h in essential hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Cattedra di Terapia Medica Sistematica, Clinica Medica I, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salvetti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cardellino
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pesenti
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Caiazza
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ghisoni
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Del Prato
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Innocenti
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ponzanelli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Errico
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Freda
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009529:Nicardipine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011897:Random Allocation
chemical_list: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D009529:Nicardipine