A Clinical Study on Antihypertensive Effects and Safety of Benidipine

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to evaluate the antihypertensive efficacy and safety of benidipine hydrochloride, a Ca(++)-channel blocker, in patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension. METHODS: Benidipine was administered in 2-8mg once daily for 10 weeks in 16 hypertensive patients with diastolic blood pressure over 95mmHg and adverse effects were checked every two weeks after benidipine administration. Chest X-ray, ECG, funduscopy, and laboratory examination were performed before and after benidipine administration. RESULTS: The antihypertensive effect of benidipine was evaluated in 15 patients and the safety in 16 patients. The blood pressure significantly reduced from 170+/-12mmHg/102+/-5mmHg to 137+/-15mmHg/86+/-8mmHg at 10-week administration of benidipine and the overall effective rate was 100%. Heart rate was not affected by benidipine. The slight increase of total protein, BUN, potassium, and glucose was observed at 10 weeks of benidipine administration. Four cases of headache and 1 case of frequent urination were observed and the medication was discontinued in one patient due to headache. CONCLUSION: Benidipine proved effective and safe in the treatment of essential hypertension.

Effect of Diltiazem and Verapamil on Pipecuronium-and Atracurium-induced Neuromuscular Blockade / 대한마취과학회지

The effects and interactions of pipecuronium and atracurium with diltiazem and verapalmil on the electrically-evoked twitch response, train-of-four and tetanic stimulation were studied in the isolated rat phrenic-hemidiaphragm preparation. Pipecuronium (3X10(-7) -4X10(-6)) and atracurium (10(-6) -3X10(-5) M) decreased the electrically-evoked twitch response, train-of-four and tetanus ratio in a dose-related fashion and the pipecuronium was more potent than atracurium. The inhibitory effects of pipecuronium and atracurium were potentiated by pretreatment of 5 uM diltiazem and verapamil, Ca++-channel blokers, in which the concentration of diltiazem or verapamil has no obvious effect on the twitch response itself. Futhermore, it is noteworthy that the inhibitory effects of pipecuronium and atraeurium were markedly potentiated by 150 uM hemicholinium pretreatment. On the basis of these findings, the results of present study suggests that the muscle relaxation by pipecuronium and atracurium is mediated by pre- and post-junctional receptor blockade, and that diltiazem or verapamil intensifies neuromuscular blockade produced by these musele relaxants. The potentiating effect of diltiazem or verapamil may be due to blocking influx of calcium and/or release of acetylcholine from presynaptic nerve terminals.