Darodipine: appears more effective than nifedipine in preventing exercise-induced asthma

12 asthmatic patients with a mean predicted FEV 1 of 83% received, on separate days, the calcium antagonist darodipine [PY 108 068; Sandoz] 75mg or 150mg, nifedipine 30mg and placebo, in double-blind crossover fashion.

Evaluable patients (n = 16) showed a fall in mean resting FEV1 from baseline in the 2 hour post-dose period after both placebo and darodipine 75mg. Darodipine 150mg produced an initial sharp fall in mean resting FEV 1 but this reversed to a 5% rise compared with baseline after 2 hours. Only nifedipine produced a consistent significant percentage increase in mean resting FEV 1 from baseline compared with placebo. The maximal percentage increase in FEV 1 occurred 1 hour after nifedipine (4%) and 2 hours after darodipine 150mg (6%).

The maximal percentage decrease in mean FEV 1 after exercise was less after each active medication [darodipine 75mg (26%), 150mg (24%), nifedipine (29%)] than after placebo (40%), but this was only significantly less after darodipine 150mg. Side effects included headache, palpitations and lightheadedness after nifedipine, and headache after both darodipine 75mg and 150mg.

Only nifedipine produced significant bronchodilation at rest, compared with placebo, while darodipine 150mg provided significantly superior protection against exercise-induced asthma compared with nifedipine. Olive SR. Hansen JE. Sue DY. Ben-Oov I. Wasserman K Chest 90 208-211. Aug 1986