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Verapamil in the long-term treatment of angina pectoris
Insights
Verapamil therapy provided sustained relief for stable angina in over two-thirds of patients over one year. This calcium channel blocker was well-tolerated, with hypotension as the main dose-limiting factor.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Coronary artery disease (CAD) management often involves beta-blockers.
- Patients with stable angina pectoris may be unsuitable for beta-blocker therapy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of verapamil in patients with stable angina pectoris.
- To assess verapamil's tolerability in patients ineligible for beta-adrenergic blocking drugs.
Main Methods:
- A long-term, open clinical trial involving 93 patients with stable angina pectoris.
- Patients were selected based on angina severity and contraindications to beta-blockers.
Main Results:
- Good and sustained relief of angina was achieved in 58 patients (two-thirds) over one year.
- Verapamil was generally well-tolerated, with hypotension being the primary dose-limiting adverse effect.
- No adverse effects were noted in patients with co-existing conditions like obstructive airways disease or controlled heart failure.
Conclusions:
- Verapamil is an effective and safe option for the chronic management of angina pectoris.
- It represents a significant advancement in treating patients with stable angina, especially those who cannot tolerate beta-blockers.
Abstract:
A long-term, open clinical trial of verapamil therapy was conducted in 93 patients with coronary artery disease, selected on the basis of having stable angina pectoris and of being unsuitable for treatment with beta-adrenergic blocking drugs. Two-thirds of the patients (58 patients) obtained a good relief which was sustained over a period of one year. 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. Verapamil was considered to be a major advance in the chronic therapy of angina pectoris.