| Pharmacodynamics |
Nitrendipine, a dihydropyridine calcium-channel blocker, is used
alone or with an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, to treat
hypertension, chronic stable angina pectoris, and Prinzmetal's variant
angina. Nitrendipine is similar to other peripheral vasodilators.
Nitrendipine inhibits the influx of extra cellular calcium across the
myocardial and vascular smooth muscle cell membranes possibly by
deforming the channel, inhibiting ion-control gating mechanisms, and/or
interfering with the release of calcium from the sarcoplasmic reticulum.
The decrease in intracellular calcium inhibits the contractile
processes of the myocardial smooth muscle cells, causing dilation of the
coronary and systemic arteries, increased oxygen delivery to the
myocardial tissue, decreased total peripheral resistance, decreased
systemic blood pressure, and decreased afterload. |
| Mechanism of action |
By deforming the channel, inhibiting ion-control gating
mechanisms, and/or interfering with the release of calcium from the
sarcoplasmic reticulum, Nitrendipine inhibits the influx of
extracellular calcium across the myocardial and vascular smooth muscle
cell membranes The decrease in intracellular calcium inhibits the
contractile processes of the myocardial smooth muscle cells, causing
dilation of the coronary and systemic arteries, increased oxygen
delivery to the myocardial tissue, decreased total peripheral
resistance, decreased systemic blood pressure, and decreased afterload. |
