lacidipine and Exanthema

To assess the duration and consistency of the pharmacological activity of the dihydropyridine calcium antagonist drug, lacidipine.. Eight healthy normotensive young males participated in a double-blind randomised crossover comparison of single and multiple doses (for 2 weeks) of lacidipine and placebo. The calcium antagonist effects were quantified at 2, 6 and 24 h post dose by the extent of the attenuation of the pressor responses to the intravenous administration of the vasoconstrictors angiotensin II and noradrenaline.. After 2 weeks of treatment, lacidipine consistently and significantly attenuated the pressor responses to both agents at 2 h post dose. At 6 and 24 h post dose there was a significant and progressive decline in the effectiveness of lacidipine in attenuating the pressor responses and for the response to angiotensin II there was no statistically significant effect at either 6 or 24 h post dose.. These results indicate that there is an obvious 'peak' in the pharmacological activity of lacidipine at about 2 h post dose and that this activity is not fully and consistently maintained throughout 24 h.

Topics: Adult; Angiotensin II; Blood Pressure; Calcium Channel Blockers; Cross-Over Studies; Dihydropyridines; Double-Blind Method; Exanthema; Humans; Male; Norepinephrine; Time Factors; Vasoconstriction; Vasoconstrictor Agents