Nifedipine treatment of patients with bronchial asthma

Nifedipine, 30 mg/day for 4 weeks, was compared to placebo in a double-blind, randomized, crossover study, as an additional drug added to the usual treatment of 14 patients with bronchial asthma. Nifedipine did not significantly change peak expiratory flow rates or subjective symptoms like cough, sputum, wheezing, shortness of breath, or disturbed sleep. Nifedipine did not decrease the number of salbutamol rotacaps inhaled per day. Arterial blood pressure significantly decreased (p less than 0.01) after nifedipine treatment, and side effects (headache and flushing) were not uncommon. In this study, long-term treatment with nifedipine had essentially no effect on subjective symptoms at peak expiratory flow rates.