Comparative study to assess the efficacy and adverse effects of amlodipine and nifedipine retard in patients with stable exertional angina and hypertension

• Published in: Przeglad lekarski Vol. 54; no. 5; p. 324
• Main Authors: Witkowska, M, Tracz, W, Kubler, G, Negrusz-Kawecka, M, Hlawaty, M, Olszowska, M, Salamon, P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Polish
• Published: Poland 1997
• Subjects: Aged; Amlodipine - administration & dosage; Angina Pectoris - complications; Angina Pectoris - drug therapy; Blood Pressure - drug effects; Calcium Channel Blockers - administration & dosage; Drug Administration Schedule; Exercise Test; Female; Humans; Hypertension - complications; Male; Middle Aged; Nifedipine - administration & dosage; Nitroglycerin - administration & dosage; Vasodilator Agents - administration & dosage
• ISSN: 0033-2240

The purpose of the study was to compare the antianginal and hypotensive efficacy and tolerability of 8 weeks of treatment with amlodipine taken once daily and nifedipine taken twice daily in patients with stable exertional angina pectoris and mild-to-moderate hypertension. Following a 2-week placebo run-in-period 13 patients were randomized to receive amlodipine (5 to 10 mg once daily) and 8 patients to receive nifedipine (20 or 40 mg twice daily) in an 8-week treatment phase. Antianginal efficacy was assessed with angina diares, investigators, and patients global evaluations and with treadmill exercise test during placebo run-in-period and after 8 weeks of the therapy. Amlodipine significantly reduced both weekly anginal attacks and consumption of glyceryl trinitrate tablets. This effect was more pronounced compared to efficacy of nifedipine. Exercise tolerance was also improved more markedly after amlodipine than after nifedipine treatment. Amlodipine treatment resulted in significant increase in total exercise time, increase the exercise time to angina onset, increase time to ST segment depression, decrease in ST segment depression, decrease in total duration of ST segment depression and decrease in duration of pain. In patients treated with nifedipine only favourable effect was significant decrease in total duration of ST segment depression, without significant changes of other examined parameters. Both drugs decreased blood pressure with no significant change in heart rate. No serious adverse events occurred in any patients during therapy with amlodipine as well as with nifedipine. The results of the study demonstrate that amlodipine has markedly better anti-anginal efficacy than nifedipine with respect to the most of the parameters examined. However both drugs showed comparable antihypertensive action and both were well tolerated by angina patients. The good anti-anginal and hypotensive efficacy and safety of amiodipine with once daily dosage regimen makes this drug an excellent choice of treatment for hypertensive patients with severe coronary artery disease.