TOLERANCE AND LONG-TERM EFFICACY OF A FIXED COMBINATION OF ATENOLOL AND NIFEDIPINE IN THE TREATMENT OF ANGINA-PECTORIS

To monitor the tolerance and long-term efficacy of a low-dose fixed combination of 50 mg atenolol and 20 mg nifedipine (slow release formulation) in patients with stable angina pectoris, 157 patients received treatment twice daily in a multi-centre, open-label fashion for periods up to 12 months following a four week run-in period on atenolol 50 mg twice daily. A total of 122 patients completed the study and had data from all treatment visits. In these patients the median number of weekly anginal attacks was halved, compared to the run-in period on atenolol alone following one month's fixed combination treatment, and this benefit was maintained throughout the 12-month study period. In addition, GTN consumption similarly declined on the fixed combination in comparison with the run-in period. Treatment with the fixed combination was not associated with any long-term increase in the frequency of reported side-effects or adverse biochemical changes compared to run-in. The fixed combination of atenolol 50 mg and nifedipine 20 mg reduced anginal frequency and GTN consumption compared to atenolol alone without causing any increase in adverse effects.