(October 9, 2008 - Insidermedicine) A new drug for the treatment of angina helps improve symptoms when it is added to standard therapy, according to an article published in the latest issue of The Lancet.

Here are some facts about angina:

•    It refers to chest pain or discomfort that occurs when the heart is unable to obtain the oxygen-rich blood it needs.

•    Stable angina has a regular pattern and occurs when the heart is working harder than normal.

•    Unstable angina does not follow a predictable pattern. It can occur at any time and does not get better with rest or medicine.

Researchers at Syracuse Preventive Medicine summarized the risks and benefits of ranolazine. The agent has been assessed in several randomized, controlled trials, and has been shown to extend the period of time that patients suffering from chronic, stable angina can exercise before experiencing an attack. It also reduces the rate of angina attacks by about one per week.

Side effects of ranolazine include nausea, constipation, and dizziness. It is also expensive, although experts point out that its cost should be measured against alternative therapy. For patients with symptomatic chronic, stable angina despite medication, generally treatment requires an invasive procedure to open up the blood vessels feeding the heart.

Today’s article demonstrates that the new anti-angina drug ranolazine can be useful for patients with chronic, stable angina who continue to have symptoms despite standard treatment.

For Insidermedicine in Depth, I'm Dr. Susan Sharma.