24 h anti-anginal and anti-ischaemic effects with once daily felodipine: A double-blind comparison with nifedipine, twice daily, and placebo in patients with stable exercise induced angina pectoris

The effects, as monotherapy, of felodipine ER 10 mg o.m. andnifedipine SR 20 mg b.d. were compared in a double-blind, randomized,placebo-controlled, three-way cross-over trial in 43 patientswith stable exercise-induced angina pectoris. The exercise testswere performed at the end of dosage interval (i.e. 24 h afterfelodipine ER, 12 h after nifedipine SR) and at the expectedpeak time of 3 h post dose. Felodipine and nifedipine improved exercise duration by 66 and50 s, respectively, (P<0.001) compared with placebo at theend of the dosing interval. Time to the end of exercise showedno statistically significant difference between the two calciumantagonists. The onset of anginal pain and time to 1 mm ST depressionwere significantly more delayed by felodipine ER than nifedipineSR (22 s and 19 s, respectively, P<0.05). Both felodipineand nifedipine decreased the pain score and rate pressure productat the highest comparable work load. Overall tolerability wasgood for both drugs.