Renal effects of nifedipine in healthy normotensive volunteers. Effects of dose, formulation, duration of treatment, and chlorothiazide coadministration.

Renal effects of nifedipine were assessed in 3 groups of healthy normotensive volunteers. In the first group (N = 10), a single 20-mg dose of the slow-release formulation caused an increase in 8-h sodium excretion (P less than 0.025) and urine volume (P less than 0.005). Natriuresis (P less than 0.05) and diuresis (P less than 0.05) were still evident after 1 wk of pretreatment, but were significantly attenuated (P less than 0.05), in each case, compared to levels after a single dose. Natriuresis and diuresis after 2 wk of intake were indistinguishable from control levels. In another group of 8, a single 10 mg dose of the conventional formulation (capsule) effected natriuresis (P less than 0.01) and diuresis (P less than 0.001) similar to those associated with intake of a single 20-mg dose of the slow-release formulation. Natriuresis and diuresis associated with a 20-mg single dose of the conventional formulation were not different from control but were less than those following intake of the 10-mg dose (P less than 0.025 in each case). In the third group of 6, nifedipine, though weaker than chlorothiazide, promoted natriuresis (P less than 0.025) and diuresis (P less than 0.025) of the thiazide without augmenting its kaliuresis. In all the groups, there were no changes in creatinine clearance, and nifedipine did not alter kaliuresis. It is suggested that natriuretic and diuretic effects of nifedipine in healthy normotensive individuals are dependent on the dose employed, the formulation used, and the duration of treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)