LACK OF INTERACTION BETWEEN DIAZEPAM AND NIMODIPINE DURING CHRONIC ORAL-ADMINISTRATION TO HEALTHY ELDERLY SUBJECTS

1 Nimodipine (30 mg three times daily) and diazepam (10 mg once daily) , were given orally to 24 elderly healthy subjects in a randomized, no n-blinded, threefold-crossover study. Each of the three treatment peri ods lasted 5 days separated by 2 week washout phases. 2 Plasma concent rations of nimodipine and diazepam were not affected by the combined t reatment. 3 No clinically relevant changes in haemodynamics, ECG recor dings, clinical chemistry or haematology were observed after all of th e three treatments. The overall frequency of side effects was lowest d uring monotherapy with nimodipine and highest during diazepam monother apy. 4 In the test of subjective rating of tiredness (VAS) and the Pau li calculation test, diazepam, alone and with nimodipine co-medication , produced an increase in tiredness and a clear reduction in performan ce and endurance. After nimodipine monotherapy an improvement was obse rved only in the Pauli test. Using the critical flicker fusion frequen cy test (CFF) significant decrements in performance were found after d iazepam monotherapy only. 5 In summary, there was no evidence that eit her nimodipine or diazepam affected the pharmacokinetics, safety and t olerance of each other. However, the CNS-effects of diazepam were comp ensated partially by nimodipine.