An assessment of single doses of 8 mg sustained-release molsidomine using serial exercise tests

The effectiveness and duration of the anti-anginal action of two sustained-release preparations, molsidomine (8 mg) and isosorbide dinitrate (20 mg), were assessed by means of serial exercise tests in 12 patients with angina of effort. The tests, which were limited by the symptoms, were carried out on three consecutive days using the Bruce protocol. Each patient was tested four times each day: the first test was performed before treatment and the others were carried out 1, 4 and 8 h after administration of the drug or placebo. One hour after administration of molsidomine, the appearance of signs of ischaemia in the ECG were considerably delayed and they were reduced in magnitude. Furthermore, the length of time during which the patients were free of angina increased. After 4 h both drugs significantly delayed the onset of angina and depression of the ST segment by 1 mm. The conclusion is that at the doses used both drugs prolong the length of time in which there is no angina, but that they have no significant effect at 8 h.