title: Nifedipine gastrointestinal therapeutic system versus atenolol in stable angina pectoris. The Netherlands Working Group on Cardiovascular Research (WCN).
abstract: The gastrointestinal therapeutic system formulation of nifedipine enables a once-daily dosing resulting in predictable, relatively constant plasma concentrations. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of this formulation and to compare this with the beta-blocker atenolol, we conducted a double-blind, randomised, multi-centre study in 129 male patients with documented exercise induced angina pectoris. After 4 weeks' treatment, nifedipine (60 mg), improved time to onset of 0.1 mV ST-segment depression from 536 s by 72 +/- 117s, time to onset of pain from 619 s by 56 +/- 120 s, and total exercise time from 685 s by 40 +/- 88 s. Atenolol 100 mg, had a comparable effect, time to onset of 0.1 mV ST-segment depression improved from 496 s by 53 +/- 129 s, time to onset of pain from 572 s by 57 +/- 118 s, and total exercise time from 653 s by 33 +/- 99 s. Between group analysis revealed no statistically significant differences for these exercise parameters. Atenolol, but not nifedipine, significantly reduced heart rate and systolic blood pressure at rest and during exercise (P < 0.001 between groups), indicating different modes of action of the drugs. With regard to safety, both drugs were generally well tolerated. There were significantly (P = 0.01) more vasodilation related side effects with nifedipine. These data demonstrate that gastrointestinal therapeutic system formulation of nifedipine and atenolol as once-daily monotherapy are equally effective and safe, but with different effects on exercise parameters.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology/Thoraxcenter, University Hospital Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: de Vries
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: van den Heuvel
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Lok
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Claessens
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Bernink
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Pasteuning
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kingma
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Dunselman
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000368:Aged; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001262:Atenolol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005080:Exercise Test; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005996:Nitroglycerin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D001262:Atenolol; D005996:Nitroglycerin; D009543:Nifedipine