We have investigated in malignant hyperthermia susceptible swine in vivo the effects on halothane initiation of the MH syndrome and on the established syndrome of five calcium channel blocking drugs — nifedipine, nisoldipine, diltiazem, verapamil and flunarazine. Nifedipine alone caused attenuation of halothane-initiated malignant hyperthermia to the extent of blocking onset of the syndrome in 29% of animals for the 60 minute period of exposure. In the face of the established malignant hyperthermia syndrome, all the drugs tested were therapeutically completely ineffective.
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