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Lacidipine--a once-daily calcium antagonist for hypertension
Insights
Newer calcium antagonists like lacidipine offer no clear advantages over older drugs for hypertension. Established medications such as verapamil, diltiazem, and nifedipine remain effective and well-tolerated choices for cardiovascular disease management.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease management often involves calcium antagonists.
- Established calcium antagonists include verapamil, diltiazem, and nifedipine.
- Newer alternatives have not consistently demonstrated superior efficacy or tolerability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the clinical utility of lacidipine, a novel calcium antagonist for hypertension.
- To compare lacidipine's profile with established calcium antagonists.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing clinical data and pharmacological profiles.
- Comparison of efficacy and tolerability data for lacidipine versus older agents.
Main Results:
- Lacidipine is a once-daily calcium antagonist for mild to moderate hypertension.
- Manufacturer claims suggest a gradual onset of action for lacidipine.
- No evidence indicates lacidipine is more effective or better tolerated than older drugs.
Conclusions:
- Established calcium antagonists (verapamil, diltiazem, nifedipine) are sufficient for most cardiovascular disease patients.
- Lacidipine does not appear to offer significant advantages over existing, well-characterized calcium antagonists.
- Further comparative studies may be needed to fully elucidate lacidipine's role in hypertension treatment.
Abstract:
In our recent review of calcium antagonists for the treatment of patients with cardiovascular disease we concluded that most patients could be managed with formulations of one of the original calcium antagonists, verapamil, diltiazem or nifedipine. Experience is greatest with these drugs, and none of the newer alternatives appeared more effective or better tolerated. Lacidipine (Motens-Boehringer Ingelheim) is the latest calcium antagonist to be marketed for the treatment of patients with mild to moderate hypertension. It is licensed for once-daily use without the need for a modified-release formulation; in this respect it resembles amlodipine. The manufacturer of lacidipine claims that its gradual onset of action "cushions the fall in blood pressure" and "cushions against side effects".