Chronic angina and the treatment with ranolazine: facts and recommendations.

More than 6 million people in the United States are affected by chronic angina. On January 27, 2006, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new medication for the treatment of chronic stable angina called ranolazine (Ranexa). This is the first angina drug approved by the FDA in over a decade. The unique thing about this drug is that it falls into a new class of therapies in that it works at the level of cellular metabolism in decreasing demand on the cardiac tissue. There are many factors to consider when prescribing this medication including past studies, dosing, and education. There is also evidence that this drug may also benefit diabetic patients with glycemic control.