The effects of intravenous verapamil on hemodynamic status of patients with coronary artery disease receiving propranolol.

ease concurrently receiving #-adrenergic blocking agents. To investigate this possibility, 20 patients with coronary artery disease and normal left ventricular function receiving chronic propranolol therapy were given i.v. verapamil (0.025, 0.05, or 0.1 mg/kg over 2 minutes, followed by 0.005 mg/kg/min infusion) and the hemodynamic and angiographic effects were studied. The mean (± SD) plasma verapamil concentration at the time the hemodynamic effects were being measured was 122 ± 51 ng/ml for the 10 patients who received low doses (0.025 or 0.05 mg/kg) and 214 ± 108 ng/ml for the 10 patients who received high doses (0.1 mg/kg). Verapamil reduced mean arterial pressure by 22% (p < 0.001), systemic vascular resistance by 24% (p < 0.001),