mode of action
Last reviewed 01/2018
- peripheral arteriolar vasodilatation - leads to a reduction in peripheral resistance and hence a reduction in blood pressure
- peripheral venous dilatation - leads to peripheral venous pooling and hence a reduction in left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, and reduction in resistance to coronary blood flow during diastole
- vasodilatory effects may cause redistribution of blood flow to areas of myocardial ischaemia. This mechanism is important when angina is a result of coronary artery spasm (Prinzmetal's angina)