Clinical effect of diltiazem on angina of effort in relation to dosage of nitroglycerin
Nakayama, I.
International Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Biopharmacy 17(9): 410-415
1979
ISSN/ISBN: 0340-0026 PMID: 115803 Document Number: 144709
Diltiazem, a new Ca-antagonistic agent, was orally administered in a daily dose of 90 mg over 8 wk to 19 patients with angina of effort requiring a minimum 7 tablets of nitroglycerin per wk. The amount of nitroglycerin tablets used was recorded and the symptom of angina pectoris was scored according to frequency and nature of anginal attacks during the therapy with diltiazem. Highly significant decreases in the score of subjective symptoms and in the use of nitroglycerin was observed in the course of the therapy with diltiazem. A decrease in the product of systolic blood pressure and heart rate was also statistically significant. It was assumed that diltiazem improved ischemic heart diseases due to its vasodilating activity on the coronary arteries and collaterals and to its decrease of cardiac function by virtue of mild hypotensive and weak negative chronotropic effects. No abnormal change in laboratory findings on liver function test, urinalysis, renal function test and hematological examination was noted throughout the present trial. No sign of adverse reaction was subjectively observed. Diltiazem is apparently a new type of anti-anginal drug useful for long-term treatment of angina of effort.