Potentiation by an alpha-adrenolytic agent, nicergoline, of the cardiac effects of propranolol.

Ten young healthy volunteers were given placebo, propranolol (20 or 40 mg), nicergoline, an alpha blocking agent (30 mg) or the association of nicergoline (15 mg) and propranolol (20 mg) in a randomized double blind study. The results show that nicergoline potentiates the cardiodepressant action of propranolol, whereby the effects of 20 mg become the same as those of 40 mg given alone on cardiac output and myocardial oxygen demand, though the plasma propranolol levels are not changed. We, therefore, propose that nicergoline blocks alpha 1 agonist effects of propranolol, which are usually masked by the greater beta 1 blocking effects but could have clinical and therapeutic relevance.

[Haemodynamic and metabolic effects of exercise test in diabetic patients with arteritis treated or not with nicergoline (author's transl)]. / Effets hémodynamiques et métaboliques de l'épreuve d'effort chez l'artéritique diabétique traité ou non par la nicergoline.

A randomised crossover study in eleven diabetic patients with arteritis compared the effects of nicergoline (2,5 mg i.v.) or placebo on haemodynamic and metabolic parameters after exercise tests. Haemodynamic modifications after effort following placebo administration were typical: raised systolic blood pressure, and increased heart rate and myocardial oxygen requirements (systolic BP x heart rate). Modifications after similar effort following nicergoline involved an increase in systolic B.P. only, heart rate and myocardial oxygen requirements remaining unchanged. Blood lactic acid levels after effort and treatment were significantly higher (p. less than 0.01) than after effort without treatment. Overall metabolic and haemodynamic results demonstrate an increase in effort tolerance in diabetic patients with arteritis after nicergoline, this having been previously observed in healthy subjects.