Glucose tolerance and electrolyte metabolism in nifedipine and nifedipine dihydroergotoxin treated healthy subjects

: The effects of three oral doses of nifedipine 20 mg or nifedipine 20 mg/dihydroergotoxin 2 mg (Pontuc, HN 85) during three subsequent days on an oral glucose load (100 g) were compared to placebo. Neither drug altered the glucose load or inhibited the secretion of insulin or C-peptide. The fall of serum potassium was also identical to controls. Basal plasma norepinephrine concentrations were lower following nifedipine/dihydroergotoxine than after nifedipine alone (2 p less than 0.05). A decrease of the serum sodium concentration by 2 mmol/l was observed with nifedipine but not with the combined drugs.