Suppression of sympathetic nervous system activity by nicorandil during exercise.

1. Treadmill testing was done and plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine were measured during exercise and recovery in 21 patients with coronary artery disease given nicorandil. 2. Epinephrine levels during exercise did not change significantly with nicorandil, but the percent change in epinephrine with nicorandil tended to be lower during exercise. 3. Norepinephrine levels after exercise were suppressed with nicorandil (with, 424 +/- 15 pg/ml; without, 760 +/- 16, P less than 0.05). 4. Also, the percent change in norepinephrine with nicorandil was significantly decreased during exercise and recovery (with, 259 +/- 11%; without, 555 +/- 19, P less than 0.01). 5. Therefore, nicorandil suppressed the sympathetic nervous system hyper-response to exercise.