title: [Pharma-clinics. Drug of the month. Lercanidipine (Zanidip)].
abstract: Lercanidipine (Zanidip) is a new calcium antagonist belonging to the dihydropyridine family suitable for the first-line treatment of hypertension. This molecule displays a high specificity and selectivity for vascular smooth muscle cells and has, in spite of a short plasma half-life, a long duration of action due to its liposolubility. The usual and once a day dose to treat high blood pressure of any grade is 10 mg, which if needed could be increased to 20 mg once a day. It has a gradual onset of effect on blood pressure, thus leading to a good tolerability and hopefully a better compliance in the treatment of hypertension. No adaptation of the dose is needed in older patients or in patients with moderate renal or liver impairment.
authors.affiliation: Département de Médecine Interne, C.H.U. Liège.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Krzesinski
mesh_terms: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D004095:Dihydropyridines / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D004095:Dihydropyridines; C060343:lercanidipine