Effect of amlodipine on cardiopulmonary performance in volunteers

1. In order to exclude a significant effect of the calcium channel antagoni st amlodipine on cardiopulmonary performance in normal subjects, we perform ed a double-blind crossover study of amlodipine (10 mg daily for 2 weeks) o n oxygen uptake and catecholamine responses during exercise in eight volunt eers. 2. Despite a therapeutic plasma concentration of amlodipine (22.8+/-9 ng/mL )1 there was no change in resting heart rate or blood pressure. Amlodipine did not cause significant change in oxygen uptake at the anaerobic threshol d or at maximum exercise and there was also no change in heart rate or cate cholamine responses. 3. Although there was an awareness of peripheral vasodilation and reports o f lethargy during the active treatment period, the volunteers had no object ive evidence of a decrease in cardiopulmonary performance. We suggest that use of amlodipine as a vasodilator in the perioperative period would not ad d to the myocardial depressant effects of general anaesthesia in patients w ith normal cardiac function.