Effects of felodipine on haemodynamics and exercise capacity in patients with angina pectoris.

Abstract

We studied the effects of adding felodipine to beta‐adrenoceptor blockade on haemodynamics and exercise capacity in 14 patients with stable angina pectoris using a placebo controlled double‐blind crossover protocol. Felodipine reduced supine and standing systolic pressure by 13% (P less than 0.01) and 14% (P less than 0.01) respectively and increased supine heart rate 7.4% (P less than 0.05). Felodipine at a plasma concentration of 15.5 +/‐ 3.0 nmol l‐1 increased exercise duration by 16% (P less than 0.01) but failed to attenuate the degree of ST segment depression during exercise. The mean daily number of episodes of angina (0.53 +/‐ 0.16 on placebo vs 0.37 +/‐ 0.11 on felodipine) and mean daily GTN consumption (0.51 +/‐ 0.07 on placebo vs 0.36 +/‐ 0.12 on felodipine) were not significantly reduced (0.1 less than P greater than 0.05). These findings suggest that felodipine may provide useful additional benefits in patients with hypertension or angina pectoris, who are already receiving beta‐adrenoceptor blockers. 1987 The British Pharmacological Society