Effects of verapamil on exercise performance in chronic angina pectoris

We have studied the effects of chronic oral verapamil therapy on exercise performance in 26 patients with arteriographically proven coronary disease and positive exercise stress tests. Maximal, multistage treadmill exercise tests were performed before and after 2, 4, and 8 weeks therapy with verapamil 120 mg t.i.d. The time to angina and the distance walked increased from 279 to 452 sec and from 255 to 443 meters respectively. The frequency of anginal attacks decreased from 24 to 9 per week after 8 wk treatment while the nitroglycerin consumption decreased from 20 to 8 tablets per week. Functional aerobic impairment improved from 42.7% to 29.3% whilst there was no change in pressure-rate product, cumulative ST segment depression or EEV1/FVC ratios.