Nifedipine Reduces Methacholine-induced Bronchoconstriction But does not appear to have a direct bronchodilator effect

The effects of acute administration of a single sublingual dose of nifedipine 20mg were investigated in an open trial in 9 patients with occupational asthma and methacholine-induced bronchoconstriction.

Administration of nifedipine did not alter the FEV 1 with values of 3.393 and 3.473L being obtained before and after nifedipine, respectively. However, the dose of methacholine required to induce a 15% fall in FEV" increased from a baseline value of 310.6"g to 1012.3"g after nifedipine treatment. Four patients complained of headaches, and 7 patients had a slight decrease in arterial BP following administration of nifedipine. Thus, nifedipine appears to reduce methacholine-induced bronchoconstriction, but does not shift bronchial reactivity into the normal range. The effects of nifedipine do not appear to involve direct bronchodilation. Moscato G. Danna P, Dorigo N, Dellabianca A, Candura F. Annals of Allergy 56: 145·149, Feb 1986

14 INPHARMA r., 22 Mar 1986 0156-2703/86/1005-0014/0$01.00/0 © ADIS Press