Effects of felodipine on haemodynamics and exercise capacity in patients with angina pectoris.
We studied the effects of adding felodipine to beta-adrenoceptor blockade on haemodynamics and exercise capacity in 14 patients with stable angina pectoris using a placebo controlled double-blind crossover protocol. Felodipine reduced supine and standing systolic pressure by 13% (P less than 0.01) and 14% (P less than 0.01) respectively and increased supine heart rate 7.4% (P less than 0.05). Felodipine at a plasma concentration of 15.5 +/- 3.0 nmol l-1 increased exercise duration by 16% (P less than 0.01) but failed to attenuate the degree of ST segment depression during exercise. The mean daily number of episodes of angina (0.53 +/- 0.16 on placebo vs 0.37 +/- 0.11 on felodipine) and mean daily GTN consumption (0.51 +/- 0.07 on placebo vs 0.36 +/- 0.12 on felodipine) were not significantly reduced (0.1 less than P greater than 0.05). These findings suggest that felodipine may provide useful additional benefits in patients with hypertension or angina pectoris, who are already receiving beta-adrenoceptor blockers.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005080:Exercise Test; D015736:Felodipine; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009568:Nitrendipine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005996:Nitroglycerin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005082:Physical Exertion; D011897:Random Allocation
D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D009568:Nitrendipine; D005996:Nitroglycerin; D015736:Felodipine