METABOLIC EFFECTS IN RATS OF VERAPAMIL ALONE AND IN COMBINATION WITH CAPTOPRIL

The metabolic effects of verapamil alone and in combination with capto pril were investigated in rats. Animals received the maximum recommend ed doses for humans (per kg body weight per day) over a 2-week period. Verapamil had no significant effects on serum biochemistry, but cause d a significant increase in serum potassium level and significant redu ctions in the rates of intestinal absorption of glucose and calcium. V erapamil/captopril had a number of significant effects on serum lipid profile (increased total cholesterol, increased HDL-cholesterol, and r educed LDL-cholesterol), and also provoked an increase in serum alanin e aminotransferase activity and in serum glucose levels. The combinati on treatment caused a significant increase in serum chloride levels, b ut had no effect on intestinal absorption. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science I nc.