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Ranolazine, a new antianginal drug that partially inhibits fatty-acid oxidation, has been shown to increase exercise duration. In a manufacturer-supported, multicenter, double-blind, randomized trial, researchers compared the effects of twice-daily ranolazine (at 750 mg or 1000 mg) and placebo on outcomes in 823 patients (mean age, 64; most from eastern Europe) who were already taking daily atenolol (50 mg), amlodipine (5 mg), or diltiazem (180 mg). At 2, 6, and 12 weeks after starting therapy, exercise duration was assessed at 4 and 12 hours after dosing.
On treadmill tests conducted at trough ranolazine levels, exercise duration improved by nearly 2 minutes in both ranolazine groups from baseline to 12 weeks -- significantly more than the …