New therapeutic modalities in hypertension: focus on a new calcium antagonist-nicardipine.

A new generation of dihydropyridine calcium antagonists which are related structurally to nifedipine is undergoing clinical investigation. Among these newer agents. nicardipine and nimodipine have become available for clinical use. In controlled trials, nicardipine is superior to placebo and equal to other antihypertensive agents for the treatment of systemic hypertension. Nicardipine is associated with a low incidence of adverse effects that are related primarily to its peripheral vasodilatory actions. In addition, nicardipine appears to have little if any negative effects on myocardial contractility or conduction.