Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: CARDENE versus CARDIZEM.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: CARDENE versus CARDIZEM.
CARDENE vs CARDIZEM
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
Cardene (nicardipine) is a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker that inhibits the transmembrane influx of calcium ions into vascular smooth muscle and cardiac muscle. It dilates peripheral arterioles, reducing systemic vascular resistance and blood pressure, and also has coronary vasodilatory effects.
Diltiazem inhibits calcium influx into cardiac and vascular smooth muscle cells during depolarization by binding to L-type calcium channels. This results in coronary vasodilation, decreased myocardial oxygen demand, and negative chronotropic and inotropic effects.
20-40 mg orally three times daily.
Oral: 30-120 mg three to four times daily; extended-release: 120-360 mg once daily. IV: Initial 0.25 mg/kg (max 25 mg) bolus over 2 minutes, may repeat in 15 minutes (0.35 mg/kg); maintenance: 5-15 mg/hour continuous infusion.
None Documented
None Documented
1.5-2 hours (terminal); prolonged in hepatic impairment (up to 6-8 hours)
Terminal elimination half-life is 3.0-4.5 hours in healthy adults; may be prolonged to 7-9 hours in elderly, hepatic impairment, or renal impairment; clinically relevant for dosing frequency.
Renal: 60% as metabolites, 10% unchanged; Fecal: 35%
Primarily hepatic metabolism with extensive first-pass effect; approximately 2-4% excreted unchanged in urine; fecal excretion accounts for about 65% of dose as metabolites; renal excretion accounts for about 35% of dose as metabolites.
Category C
Category C
Calcium Channel Blocker
Calcium Channel Blocker