[Acute and long-term effects of gallopamil (D 600) in stable angina pectoris--a randomized double-blind study]

The effects of the calcium-channel-blocking agent Gallopamil (D 600) were assessed in 20 patients with stable exertional angina pectoris in a randomized placebo-controlled double-blind protocol using serial exercise tests. Both after a single oral dose and during long-term treatment over 3 weeks, Gallopamil caused a dose-dependent increase in exercise duration and a reduction in ischemic ST segment depression that became clinically relevant using single doses of 50 mg. Since the rate-pressure product was not significantly affected by Gallopamil, its anti-anginal action cannot adequately be explained by a reduction in myocardial oxygen consumption as a result of this mechanism. The only side effects observed were asymptomatic second-degree sinoatrial block in one and first-degree atrioventricular block in another patient, each on 150 mg gallopamil daily. It thus seems justifiable to study the effectiveness of higher doses.