Interaction profile and tolerability of barnidipine.
BACKGROUND
Barnidipine is a new dihydropyridine calcium antagonist that is presented in modified-release capsules containing a single S-S optical isomer of the molecule. Its characteristics are of interest, as there is evidence of differences in kinetics, dynamics, interactions and safety of individual enantiomers in traditional racemic preparations of calcium antagonists. The safety of barnidipine and its interaction profile are reviewed.


RESULTS
Adverse events with barnidipine are of mild to moderate intensity, most commonly of type I and occur in the early phase of treatment. Furthermore, safety results in elderly patients are comparable with those in the general population, indicating that barnidipine can be used without dose adjustment in elderly hypertensive patients.
Barnidipine has a pharmacokinetic interaction profile that compares favourably with those from other calcium antagonists. The pharmacokinetic properties of barnidipine are unaffected by food. Minor increases in its availability may occur with concomitant use of alcohol or grapefruit juice, but these are unlikely to have clinical relevance. In contrast with several other calcium antagonists, barnidipine does not affect the steady-state kinetics of digoxin, whereas, like other calcium antagonists its bioavailability may be increased by the concomitant administration of cimetidine. In addition, the potential of barnidipine and its major metabolites to affect the metabolism of concomitant medication is unlikely to be of clinical relevance.


CONCLUSIONS
The interaction and tolerability profile of barnidipine is well established in all age groups.
Beudeker
H J
HJ
Yamanouchi Europe B.V, Leiderdorp, The Netherlands.
van der Velden
J W
JW
van der Aar
E M
EM
D000368:Aged; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D004347:Drug Interactions / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; C050699:mepirodipine; D009543:Nifedipine