Different effects of nifedipine and amlodipine on circulating catecholamine levels in essential hypertensive patients

Abstract

The transient increase in norepinephrine levels observed with NPA and the sustained increases in norepinephrine levels observed after chronic treatment with amlodipine suggest that sympathetic activation occurs with those two drugs. The lack of increase in norepinephrine levels after administration of NGITS suggests that this formulation does not activate the sympathetic system. The lowering of epinephrine levels after administrations of NGITS and amlodipine suggests that inhibition of release of epinephrine by the adrenal medulla occurs with longer-acting dihydropyridine formulations.