Effect of intra-colonic nicardipine on colonic motility in irritable bowel syndrome

Intravenous nicardipine has previously been shown to abolish the effect of a 1000-calorie meal on colonic motility. The purpose of this study was to use the same experimental design to assess the effect of nicardipine instilled directly into the colon. Each patient was studied three times when receiving either placebo, 15 mg or 30 mg nicardipine infused over 2 h. Blood concentrations of nicardipine remained very low, but neither dose of the drug affected either basal or post-prandial colonic motility. Topical nicardipine does not appear to have therapeutic potential and its activity is probably dependent on systemic absorption.