Safety and efficacy of isradipine, alone and in combination, in the treatment of angina pectoris.

Five hundred ninety outpatients aged 18 years or older with stable angina pectoris entered a multicenter, single-blind, nonrandomized, baseline-controlled study to assess the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of isradipine in doses of 2.5, 5, or 7.5 mg three times daily for 12 weeks, following a two-week placebo "washout" period. Patients were assessed at the initial visit and, thereafter, every two weeks with a final evaluation at Week 14. The final mean dose was 5.9 mg three times daily. Overall, isradipine was found to reduce significantly the angina attack rate and nitroglycerin consumption in patients with chronic, stable, effort-induced angina pectoris. Isradipine was generally well tolerated when prescribed alone or with concomitant beta-blocker medication.