Verapamil, a calcium channel blocker, reduces resistance of some tumors to Adriamycin by inhibiting Adriamycin efflux from resistant cells. This study shows that rabbits given 7 mg/kg of Adriamycin and 0.8 mg/kg of verapamil died earlier with functional and morphological cardiac abnormalities than rabbits given Adriamycin alone. Rabbits that were given verapamil and died peracutely had higher concentrations of Adriamycin in the myocardium. The relatively high dose of Adrimaycin was expected to produce cardiotoxicity in rabbits within a matter of days. However, peracute death (within hours) in rabbits given the same dose of Adriamycin but with veparamil treatment was unexpected. These results suggest that combining Adriamycin with veparamil increases early cardiac toxicity. Therefore, clinical use of this combination should be approached cautiously until the interactions, including the possibility for enhanced normal tissue damage, are fully understood.

Keywords:
Adriamycin, Cardiotoxicity, Verapamil, Rabbits, Chemotherapy
This content is only available via PDF.
© 1987 S. Karger AG, Basel
1987
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.