Our study evaluated the effects of verapamil in elderly patients with stable effort angina using a medium-term double-blind placebo-controlled protocol. Thirty-nine consecutive patients, 23 middle-age patients (50 +/- 6 years; range 38-60 years) and 16 elderly patients (66 +/- 2 years; range 65-70 years) with exertional angina were chosen. After a run-in period, both groups received treatment with either placebo or verapamil--360 mg daily--for 4 weeks. During treatment, weekly angina frequency and nitroglycerin consumption were significantly reduced in both groups. Verapamil significantly decreased the rate-pressure product at rest in elderly patients and in both groups at submaximal exercise, due to a reduction in heart rate in both groups and to a more marked decrease in arterial pressure in older patients. At peak exercise, the rate-pressure product was unchanged in both groups after verapamil, while exercise capacity showed a significant improvement in the middle-aged, and ST segment depression was reduced in both groups. After verapamil, 30% of middle-aged patients and 44% of elderly patients had to stop exercising because of angina. Side effects were rare and no drop-out was recorded. Verapamil exerted its antianginal action by means of a decrease in myocardial oxygen consumption at rest and at submaximal exercise in the elderly, while only at submaximal exercise in the middle-aged. Therefore verapamil at the dose of 360 mg daily proved an effective antianginal drug with a safe effect profile also in elderly patients.