Indication: For the management of hypertension. It may be used alone or concurrently with thiazide-type diuretics
Pharmacology: Isradipine, the most potent calcium-channel blocking agent of the dihydropyridine class, is similar to nifedipine, amlodipine, and felodipine. Isradipine used to treat hypertension.
Mechanism Of Action: Isradipine works by possibly the Ca++ channel, inhibiting the ion-control gating mechanisms, and/or interfering with the release of calcium from the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Isradipine inhibits the influx of extracellular calcium across both the myocardial and vascular smooth muscle cell membranes. The resultant inhibition of the contractile processes of the myocardial smooth muscle cells leads to dilation of the coronary and systemic arteries and improved oxygen delivery to the myocardial tissue.
Drug Category: Vasodilator Agents; Antihypertensive Agents; Calcium Channel Blockers;
Absorption: 90%-95% absorbed followed by extensive first-pass metabolism yielding a bioavailability of 15-24%
Interactions:
DrugBank: Interactions for Isradipine
Interactions for Isradipine:
Nitroglycerin: DynaCirc® (isradipine) has been safely coadministered with nitroglycerin.
Hydrochlorothiazide: A study in normal healthy volunteers has shown that concomitant administration
of DynaCirc® (isradipine) and hydrochlorothiazide does not result in altered pharmacoktnetics of either drug. In
a study in hypertensive patients, addition of isradipine to existing hydrochlorothiazide therapy did not result in
any unexpected adverse effects, and isradipine had an additional antihypertensive effect.
Propranolol: In a single dose study in normal volunteers, coadministration of propranolol had a
small effect on the rate but no effect on the extent of isradipine bioavailability. Significant increases In AUC
(27%) and Cmax (58%) and decreases in tmax (23%) of propranolol were noted in this study. However,
concomitant administration of 5 mg b.i.d. isradipine and 40 mg b.i.d. propranolol to healthy volunteers under
steady-state conditions had no relevant effect on either drugís bioavailability, AUC and Cmax,
differences were <20% between isradipine given singly and in combination with propranolol, and between propranolol
given singly and in combination with isradipine.
Cimetidine: In a study in healthy volunteers, a one-week course of cimetidine at 400 mg b.i.d. with
a single 5 mg dose of isradipine on the sixth day showed an increase in isradipine mean peak plasma concentrations
(36%) and significant increase in area under the curve (50%). If isradipine therapy is initiated in a patient
currently receiving cimetidine careful monitoring for adverse reactions is advised and downward dose adjustment may
be required.
Rifampicin: In a study in healthy volunteers, a six-day course of rifampicin at 600 mg/day followed
by a single 5 mg dose of isradipine resulted in a reduction in isradipine levels to below detectable limits. If
rifampicin therapy is required, isradipine concentrations and therapeutic effects are likely to be markedly reduced
or abolished as a consequence of increased metabolism and higher clearance of isradipine.
Warfarin: In a study in healthy volunteers, no clinically relevant pharmacokinetic or
pharmacodynamic interaction between isradipine and racemic warfarin was seen when two single oral doses of warfarin
(0.7 mg/kg body weight) were administered during 11 days of multipledose treatment with 5 mg b.i.d. isradipine.
Neither racemic warfarin nor isradipine binding to plasma proteins in vitro was altered by the addition of the
other drug.
Digoxin: The concomitant administration of DynaCirc® (isradipine) and digoxin in a single-dose
pharmacokinetic study did not affect renal, nonrenal and total body clearance of digoxin.
Fentanyl Anesthesia: Severe hypotension has been reported during fentanyl anesthesia with
concomitant use of a beta blocker and a calcium channel blocker. Even though such interactions have not been seen in
clinical studies with DynaCirc® (isradipine), an increased volume of circulating fluids might be required if such
an interaction were to occur.
