Verapamil in the long-term treatment of angina pectoris.

A long-term, open clinical trial of verapamil therapy was conducted in 93 patients with coronary artery disease, selected on the basis of having stable angina pectoris and of being unsuitable for treatment with beta-adrenergic blocking drugs. Two-thirds of the patients (58 patients) obtained a good relief which was sustained over a period of one year. There were few major adverse reactions, and the drug was generally well tolerated. The main limiting factor in dosage was hypotension. No adverse effects were observed in patients with obstructive airways disease, controlled cardiac failure, and lower limb arteriosclerosis. Verapamil was considered to be a major advance in the chronic therapy of angina pectoris.