Introduction: In primary-care practice, trimetazidine is frequently used in combination with other antianginal drugs to enhance antianginal efficacy because of its metabolic mode of action. This study investigates whether a new twice-daily trimetazidine modified release formulation with improved pharmacokinetic properties is more effective and acceptable than the older thrice-daily immediate-release formulation.
Methods: In a multicenter prospective study, patients with uncontrolled stable angina pectoris receiving combination antianginal treatment that included the thrice-daily trimetazidine were identified. The immediate-release trimetazidine formulation was substituted with twice-daily trimetazidine modified release (Flavedon) MR), with no other changes in the treatment regimen. Follow-up was for 3 months. The primary outcomes were entirely clinical: frequency of anginal attacks and nitroglycerin (glyceryl trinitrate) consumption.
Results: In 279 patients, substitution of thrice-daily trimetazidine with twice-daily trimetazidine modified release reduced mean frequency of angina by four attacks per week (95% CI 3.1, 4.9; p < 0.01) and nitroglycerin consumption by 3.6 tablets per week (95% CI 2.9, 4.3; p < 0.01). The magnitude of these benefits was directly proportional to the number of antianginal drugs used in combination with trimetazidine. There were no withdrawals due to adverse effects, and daily compliance was 98%.
Conclusion: The twice-daily trimetazidine modified release is more effective and acceptable than the thrice-daily formulation for the combination treatment of stable angina in primary-care practice.