Verapamil in angina pectoris.

New knowledge of the pathophysiology of coronary disease has helped determine the therapy for angina pectoris. Calcium antagonists have the advantage of being direct coronary vasodilators as well as decreasing overall demand by systemic vasodilatation. Verapamil has the same anti-anginal effect during exercise as beta-adrenoceptor blockers but has the advantage of increasing rather than decreasing the cardiac output and so fatigue both at rest and exercise commonly seen with beta-adrenoceptor blockers is not found with verapamil. The longterm incidence of side-effects with verapamil are few and it can be used as a single anti-anginal therapy in a three times daily dosage. Left ventricular function where normal and near-normal is not depressed. Tolerance to therapy has not been recorded. The anti-anginal effects have been shown to remain effective over at least a 5 year period. Verapamil should be considered as initial therapy for patients with stable angina pectoris.