Acute antihypertensive effect and pharmacokinetics of a tablet preparation of nifedipine

A tablet formulation of nifedipine was given to 8 hospitalized hypertensive men, W.H.O. stage I or II, mean age 45 years. After an initial placebo test, nifedipine 20, 40 or 60 mg was given in random order at 72-h intervals, in a single administration crossover study. The placebo and the active drug were given at 8 a.m. Blood pressure and heart rate were measured twice by the same observer, every 20 min from 7 to 8 a.m., and then hourly until 8 p.m., first in recumbency and again after 1 min of standing upright. Plasma nifedipine was assayed in samples taken hourly from 8 a.m. to noon, every 2 h from noon to 8 p.m., and 24 and 48 h after drug administration. All 3 doses significantly lowered blood pressure; the fall during recumbency was significantly larger (-18%) and lasted longer (12 h) after 60 mg than after 20 mg (-11% and 7 h). All 3 doses caused a similar increase in heart rate (+29 to +38%), which reached its maximum after 2 h and lasted for 5 h. The maximum plasma concentration and the area under the plasma concentration--time curve were dose-dependent despite large inter-subject variation. Absorption, bioavailability and elimination were linear between the 20 and 60 mg doses. Plasma nifedipine levels were strongly correlated with the concomitant decrease in mean arterial blood pressure (r = 0.61, p less than 0.001). Four patients experienced mild side effects (headaches, flushes, drowsiness or weakness). This tablet form of nifedipine has a potent antihypertensive action which lasts longer than that of the capsule presentation.