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Verapamil in the long-term treatment of angina pectoris
Insights
Verapamil therapy provided sustained relief for stable angina pectoris in patients unsuitable for beta-blockers. This long-term study found verapamil well-tolerated with minimal adverse effects, marking a significant advancement in chronic angina management.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Coronary artery disease (CAD) and stable angina pectoris present significant challenges in patient management.
- Beta-adrenoceptor blocking drugs are a common treatment, but some patients are unsuitable for this therapy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the long-term efficacy and tolerability of verapamil in patients with stable angina pectoris.
- To assess verapamil as an alternative treatment for patients with CAD who cannot tolerate beta-blockers.
Main Methods:
- A long-term, open clinical trial involving ninety-three patients with stable angina pectoris.
- Patients were selected based on their unsuitability for beta-adrenoceptor blocking drugs.
Main Results:
- Two-thirds of patients (fifty-eight) experienced good, sustained relief from angina over one year.
- Verapamil was generally well-tolerated, with hypotension being the primary dose-limiting factor.
- No adverse effects were noted in patients with co-existing conditions like obstructive airways disease or controlled cardiac failure.
Conclusions:
- Verapamil is an effective and well-tolerated long-term therapy for chronic angina pectoris.
- It represents a significant therapeutic advance for patients with CAD who cannot use beta-blockers.
Abstract:
1. A long-term, open clinical trial of verapamil therapy was conducted in ninety-three patients with coronary artery disease, selected on the basis of having stable angina pectoris and of being unsuitable for treatment with beta-adrenoceptor blocking drugs. 2. Two-thirds of the patients (fifty-eight patients) obtained a good relief which was sustained over a period of 1 y. There were few major adverse reactions and the drug was generally well tolerated. The main limiting factor in dosage was hypotension. No adverse effects were observed in patients with obstructive airways disease, controlled cardiac failure and lower limb arteriosclerosis. 3. Verapamil was considered to be a major advance in the chronic therapy of angina pectoris.