Double-blind randomized crossover trial of verapamil and propranolol in chronic stable angina

Abstract Propranolol (240 mg dally) and verapamll (360 mg daily) were objectively compared for their respective efficacy in the treatment of chronic stable angina pectoris. Twenty-two patients were studied in a randomized placebo controlled, double-blind crossover trial with 4 weeks on each active drug treatment. Multistage treadmill exercise with computer-assisted ECG analysis was performed after 2 weeks on placebo and at the end of each 4-week active drug treatment. The mean exercise time to produce angina was 5.5 minutes (SEM ± 0.4 minutes) on placebo and this increased to 7.8 (±0.5) minutes on propranolol and 9.1 (±0.5) minutes on verapamil. The improvement in exercise time of verapamll over propranolol was statistically significant ( p p