Metoprolol, nifedipine, and the combination in stable effort angina pectoris

Treatment with metoprolol (100 mg twice daily), nifedipine (10 mg 3 times daily) and both drugs combined were compared for effect on clinical variables, bicycle ergometer exercise tolerance and adverse effects in a randomized double-blind, crossover study in patients with stable effort angina (n = 62). Nitroglycerin consumption and anginal attack rate as recorded in patient diaries indicated a higher antianginal efficacy (p less than or equal to 0.001) with metoprolol and combination therapy than with nifedipine monotherapy. All exercise test variables showed a significantly higher antianginal efficacy with combination therapy than with nifedipine monotherapy (15 to 26%). The combination therapy was also better than metoprolol in all exercise variables (9 to 14%), except for onset and duration of chest pain. Furthermore, metoprolol showed a higher efficacy than nifedipine in all exercise variables (7 to 23%) except total exercise time. More adverse symptoms of peripheral vasodilation were reported for nifedipine than for metoprolol (tachycardia, flushing, headache, p less than or equal to 0.05). It is concluded that combined treatment with metoprolol and nifedipine increased antianginal efficacy compared with the monotherapies, without increasing adverse effects. In effort angina, metoprolol in these doses was more effective and better tolerated than nifedipine.