Faculty Collaboration Database

Safety and Efficacy of Ranolazine for the Treatment of Chronic Angina Pectoris. Clin Med Insights Ther 2013 Jan 15;2013(5):1-14

Date

02/28/2014

Pubmed ID

24574825

Pubmed Central ID

PMC3932785

DOI

10.4137/CMT.S7824

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-84872691105 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   9 Citations

Abstract

Coronary heart disease is a global malady and it is the leading cause of death in the United States. Chronic stable angina is the most common manifestation of coronary heart disease and it results from the imbalance between myocardial oxygen supply and demand due to reduction in coronary blood flow. Therefore, in addition to lifestyle changes, commonly used pharmaceutical treatments for angina (nitrates, β-blockers, Ca²⁺ channel blockers) are aimed at increasing blood flow or decreasing O₂ demand. However, patients may continue to experience symptoms of angina. Ranolazine is a relatively new drug with anti-anginal and anti-arrhythmic effects. Its anti-anginal mechanism is not clearly understood but the general consensus is that ranolazine brings about its anti-anginal effects by inhibiting the late Na⁺ current and the subsequent intracellular Ca²⁺ accumulation. Recent studies suggest other effects of ranolazine that may explain its anti-anginal and anti-arrhythmic effects. Nonetheless, clinical trials have proven the efficacy of ranolazine in treating chronic angina. It has been shown to be ineffective, however, in treating acute coronary syndrome patients. Ranolazine is a safe drug with minimal side effects. It is metabolized mainly in the liver and cleared by the kidney. Therefore, caution must be taken in patients with impaired hepatic or renal function. Due to its efficacy and safety, ranolazine was approved for the treatment of chronic angina by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2006.

Author List

Aldakkak M, Stowe DF, Camara AK

Authors

Amadou K. Camara PhD Professor in the Anesthesiology department at Medical College of Wisconsin
David F. Stowe MD, PhD Professor in the Anesthesiology department at Medical College of Wisconsin