Suppression by orally-administered nifedipine, nisoldipine and niludipine of early, life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias resulting from acute myocardial ischaemia.

The oral administration to rats of the calcium antagonists nifedipine, nisoldipine and niludipine (3 mg/kg, 1-1.25 h before acute coronary ligation) greatly reduced the duration of ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation (VF) occurring in the first 30 min post-ligation period. The duration of VF was especially reduced (by 74-92%). None of the animals so treated died compared with a 40% mortality in the controls.