Trimetazidine 20mg tablets
Requires a prescription from a doctor or prescriber
Drug for angina pectoris sold under many brand names
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2 branded products available
WHO defined daily dose (DDD)
40 mg
Not a recommended dose. The DDD is the assumed average maintenance dose per day for a drug used for its main indication in adults. It is a statistical measure used for research and comparison purposes only.
Source: WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology, distributed via the NHS dm+d supplementary BNF/ATC mapping files (NHSBSA). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
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Similarity is based on WHO Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification and on a factual NHS dm+d therapeutic-grouping code prefix. Source data: NHS dm+d via TRUD (OGL v3.0), WHO ATC/DDD Index.
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SNOMED CT and dm+d codes from NHS TRUD (Technology Reference data Update Distribution), licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. BNF code shown is the factual mapping value distributed by NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) in the dm+d supplementary file under OGL v3.0; it is not affiliated with, nor licensed from, the publishers of the British National Formulary. ATC codes from the WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology (whocc.no).
Active and completed clinical studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), National Institutes of Health (NIH). Data accessed via ClinicalTrials.gov API v2. Trial information is provided for research purposes and does not constitute medical advice.
Academic studies and reviews for this medicine's active substance
Showing all 30 studies.
Reviews & meta-analyses: 10 · Randomised trials: 3 · 2020–2025
Showing all 30 studies, sorted by most relevant.
D. Handoko, S. Nassiri, A. A. Bovenkamp, et al.
Open Heart, 2024
- Heart Failure
- Stroke Volume
- Trimetazidine
BACKGROUND: Despite maximal treatment, heart failure (HF) remains a major clinical challenge. Besides neurohormonal overactivation, myocardial energy homoeostasis is also impaired in HF. Trimetazidine has the potential to restore myocardial energy status by inhibiting fatty acid oxidation, concomitantly enhancing glucose oxidation. Trimetazidine is an interesting adjunct treatment, for it is safe, easy to use and comes at a low cost. OBJECTIVE: We conducted a systematic review to evaluate all available clinical evidence on trimetazidine in HF. We searched Medline/PubMed, Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL and ClinicalTrials.gov to identify relevant studies. METHODS: Out of 213 records, we included 28 studies in the meta-analysis (containing 2552 unique patients), which almost exclusively randomised patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). The studies were relatively small (median study size: N=58) and of short duration (mean follow-up: 6 months), with the majority (68%) being open label. RESULTS: Trimetazidine in HFrEF was found to significantly reduce cardiovascular mortality (OR 0.33, 95% CI 0.21 to 0.53) and HF hospitalisations (OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.29 to 0.60). In addition, trimetazidine improved (New York Heart Association) functional class (mean difference: -0.44 (95% CI -0.49 to -0.39), 6 min walk distance (mean difference: +109 m (95% CI 105 to 114 m) and quality of life (standardised mean difference: +0.52 (95% CI 0.32 to 0.71). A similar pattern of effects was observed for both ischaemic and non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy. CONCLUSIONS: Current evidence supports the potential role of trimetazidine in HFrEF, but this is based on multiple smaller trials of varying quality in study design. We recommend a large pragmatic randomised clinical trial to establish the definitive role of trimetazidine in the management of HFrEF.
Abstract licence: CC BY
Wenjing Shi, Juan Cui, Chunyan Chen
General Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, 2025
- Cardiomyopathies
- Trimetazidine
- Vasodilator Agents
Tiny Nair, Saumitra Ray, Jacob George, et al.
Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2024
Objective: The present systematic review assessed the efficacy of peri-procedurally administered trimetazidine in the prevention of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) in patients undergoing coronary interventions with contrast agents. Methods: We performed a systematic literature review of articles published in PubMed and Google Scholar by 7 December 2023 and included articles from the last 15 years that evaluated the efficacy of trimetazidine in preventing CIN in cardiac patients undergoing coronary intervention. Results: After title/abstract and full-text screening, this systematic review included 9 randomized controlled trials (N = 2158 patients) with two groups: Trimetazidine (60–70 mg/day 24 to 48 h before and up to 72 h after the procedure) with hydration and the control group with only hydration. A total of 234/2158 patients developed CIN (Incidence rate [IR], 10.8%) as per the CIN definition of the Contrast Media Safety Committee of the European Society of Urogenital Radiology. The incidence of CIN in the trimetazidine vs. control group was 6.4% (69/1083) vs. 15.4% (165/1075), and the odds ratio (95% CI) was 0.3753 (0.279–0.504). Conclusions: In conclusion, the trimetazidine group had a lower incidence of CIN. Trimetazidine offers a reno-protective effect and helps in reducing the CIN incidence in patients undergoing cardiac intervention. Peri-procedure administration of trimetazidine significantly decreases the risk of CIN in patients despite comorbidities.
Abstract licence: CC BY
Hanchao Gao, Weilong Li, Chuanchuan Sun, et al.
Renal Failure, 2024
- Contrast Media
- Trimetazidine
- Vasodilator Agents
INTRODUCTION: Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is a potential complication associated with the administration of intravenous contrast agents. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) and two pharmacological interventions in preventing CIN. METHODS: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining the efficacy of RIPC, nicorandil, and trimetazidine in treating CIN were searched within databases such as PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science. The primary outcome was the incidence of CIN. The consistency model was used to address heterogeneity and enhance model fit. The assessment of consistency between direct and indirect evidence was conducted through the node-splitting method. Posterior probability estimates and surface under the cumulative ranking area (SUCRA) ranked interventions based on their effectiveness in preventing CIN. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) framework was used to grade the quality of evidence. RESULTS: or with a high prevalence of diabetes mellitus. CONCLUSIONS: Nicorandil, trimetazidine, and RIPC all showed renal protective effects. Based on hydration, nicorandil, trimetazidine, and RIPC may show better prophylaxis against CIN than hydration alone after intravenous contrast administration.
Abstract licence: CC BY
A. A. Bovenkamp, K. J. Geurkink, Frank T Oosterveer, et al.
ESC Heart Failure, 2023
- Heart Failure
- Trimetazidine
- Adenosine Triphosphate
Abstract Aims Impaired myocardial energy homeostasis plays an import role in the pathophysiology of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Left ventricular relaxation has a high energy demand, and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction has been related to impaired energy homeostasis. This study investigated whether trimetazidine, a fatty acid oxidation inhibitor, could improve myocardial energy homeostasis and consequently improve exercise haemodynamics in patients with HFpEF. Methods and results The DoPING-HFpEF trial was a phase II single-centre, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized cross-over trial. Patients were randomized to trimetazidine treatment or placebo for 3 months and switched after a 2-week wash-out period. The primary endpoint was change in pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, measured with right heart catheterization at multiple stages of bicycling exercise. Secondary endpoint was change in myocardial phosphocreatine/adenosine triphosphate, an index of the myocardial energy status, measured with phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The study included 25 patients (10/15 males/females; mean (standard deviation) age, 66 (10) years; body mass index, 29.8 (4.5) kg/m2); with the diagnosis of HFpEF confirmed with (exercise) right heart catheterization either before or during the trial. There was no effect of trimetazidine on the primary outcome pulmonary capillary wedge pressure at multiple levels of exercise (mean change 0 [95% confidence interval, 95% CI −2, 2] mmHg over multiple levels of exercise, P = 0.60). Myocardial phosphocreatine/adenosine triphosphate in the trimetazidine arm was similar to placebo (1.08 [0.76, 1.76] vs. 1.30 [0.95, 1.86], P = 0.08). There was no change by trimetazidine compared with placebo in the exploratory parameters: 6-min walking distance (mean change of −6 [95% CI −18, 7] m vs. −5 [95% CI −22, 22] m, respectively, P = 0.93), N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (5 (−156, 166) ng/L vs. −13 (−172, 147) ng/L, P = 0.70), overall quality-of-life (KCCQ and EQ-5D-5L, P = 0.78 and P = 0.51, respectively), parameters for diastolic function measured with echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance, or metabolic parameters. Conclusions Trimetazidine did not improve myocardial energy homeostasis and did not improve exercise haemodynamics in patients with HFpEF.
Abstract licence: CC BY-NC
H. Verdejo, Adolfo Rojas, Camila López-Crisosto, et al.
Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2023
Background: Pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) is a chronic and progressive disease. Although current therapy has improved the disease prognosis, PAH has a poor survival rate. The key feature leading to disease progression and death is right ventricular (RV) failure. Methods and results: We assessed the role of trimetazidine, a fatty acid beta-oxidation (FAO) inhibitor, in right ventricular function, remodeling, and functional class in PAH patients, with a placebo-controlled double-blind, case-crossover trial. Twenty-seven PAH subjects were enrolled, randomized, and assigned to trimetazidine or placebo for three months and then reallocated to the other study arm. The primary endpoint was RV morphology and function change after three months of treatment. Secondary endpoints were the change in exercise capacity assessed by a 6 min walk test after three months of treatment and the change in pro-BNP and Galectin-3 plasma levels after three months. Trimetazidine use was safe and well-tolerated. After three months of treatment, patients in the trimetazidine group showed a small but significant reduction of RV diastolic area, and a substantial increase in the 6 min walk distance (418 vs. 438 mt, p = 0.023), without significant changes in biomarkers. Conclusions: A short course of trimetazidine is safe and well-tolerated on PAH patients, and it is associated with significant increases in the 6MWT and minor but significant improvement in RV remodeling. The therapeutic potential of this drug should be evaluated in larger clinical trials.
Abstract licence: CC BY
Heba Serag, L. E. Wakeel, Viola William, et al.
Scientific Reports, 2025
- Diastole
- Echocardiography
We investigated the impact of trimetazidine treatment on left ventricular (LV) functions and cardiac biomarkers in diabetic patients with diastolic dysfunction as an early stage of diabetic cardiomyopathy. Sixty-three patients were randomly assigned to receive either trimetazidine or a placebo for 3 months. At baseline and after 3-months of treatment, measurements of serum levels of glycemic control parameters, lipid profile, tumor necrosis factor alpha, transforming growth factor beta 1, n-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide and assessment of modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea score, echocardiographic indices of LV functions and LV global longitudinal strain (GLS) were performed. After 3-months, trimetazidine group exhibited a significant reduction in left atrial volume index by 6.99% versus an increase by 0.66% in placebo group, p = 0.034. Moreover, average e' increased by a significantly higher percentage in trimetazidine versus placebo group (8.46 ± 18.64 vs. -2.49 ± 14.52, respectively. p = 0.015). Trimetazidine treatment resulted in a significant increase in LVGLS by 6.66% versus LVGLS reduction by 2.79% in placebo group (p = 0.004). Trimetazidine group had a significantly lower median mMRC dyspnea score compared to placebo (0 vs. 1, respectively, p = 0.015) and a significantly lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) (103.43 ± 28.31 vs. 125.34 ± 45.27, respectively, p = 0.032). There was no significant difference between both groups in levels of other biomarkers. Three-months treatment with trimetazidine improved diastolic function parameters, LVGLS, dyspnea severity and LDL-C levels in diabetic patients with diastolic dysfunction.
Abstract licence: CC BY-NC-ND
Sourav Khanra, P. Reddy, Anna Giménez-Palomo, et al.
Molecular Psychiatry, 2023
- Bipolar Disorder
- Trimetazidine
- Angina Pectoris
Bipolar disorder's core feature is the pathological disturbances in mood, often accompanied by disrupted thinking and behavior. Its complex and heterogeneous etiology implies that a range of inherited and environmental factors are involved. This heterogeneity and poorly understood neurobiology pose significant challenges to existing drug development paradigms, resulting in scarce treatment options, especially for bipolar depression. Therefore, novel approaches are needed to discover new treatment options. In this review, we first highlight the main molecular mechanisms known to be associated with bipolar depression-mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation and oxidative stress. We then examine the available literature for the effects of trimetazidine in said alterations. Trimetazidine was identified without a priori hypothesis using a gene-expression signature for the effects of a combination of drugs used to treat bipolar disorder and screening a library of off-patent drugs in cultured human neuronal-like cells. Trimetazidine is used to treat angina pectoris for its cytoprotective and metabolic effects (improved glucose utilization for energy production). The preclinical and clinical literature strongly support trimetazidine's potential to treat bipolar depression, having anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties while normalizing mitochondrial function only when it is compromised. Further, trimetazidine's demonstrated safety and tolerability provide a strong rationale for clinical trials to test its efficacy to treat bipolar depression that could fast-track its repurposing to address such an unmet need as bipolar depression.
Abstract licence: CC BY
M. Farzaei, Fatemeh Ramezani-Aliakbari, Maryam Ramezani-Aliakbari, et al.
Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology, 2023
- Myocardial Infarction
- Trimetazidine
- Reperfusion Injury
Amalia Pușcaș, Ruxandra Ștefănescu, C. Vari, et al.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2024
- Trimetazidine
- Fatty Acids
- Glucose
Trimetazidine (TMZ), used for treating stable angina pectoris, has garnered attention in the realm of sports due to its potential performance-enhancing properties, and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has classified TMZ on the S4 list of prohibited substances since 2014. The purpose of this narrative mini-review is to emphasize the biochemical aspects underlying the abusive use of TMZ among athletes as a metabolic modulator of cardiac energy metabolism. The myocardium's ability to adapt its energy substrate utilization between glucose and fatty acids is crucial for maintaining cardiac function under various conditions, such as rest, moderate exercise, and intense effort. TMZ acts as a partial inhibitor of fatty acid oxidation by inhibiting 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase (KAT), shifting energy production from long-chain fatty acids to glucose, reducing oxygen consumption, improving cardiac function, and enhancing exercise capacity. Furthermore, TMZ modulates pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) activity, promoting glucose oxidation while lowering lactate production, and ultimately stabilizing myocardial function. TMZs role in reducing oxidative stress is notable, as it activates antioxidant enzymes like glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). In conclusion, TMZs biochemical mechanisms make it an attractive but controversial option for athletes seeking a competitive edge.
Abstract licence: CC BY
Sources: aggregated from Europe PMC (EMBL-EBI), OpenAlex, Crossref, PubMed and other open scholarly databases. Retracted articles are excluded. Study information is provided for research purposes and does not constitute medical advice.
Pharmacology and chemical data from DrugBank
Key facts
Drug status
Approved
Major interactions
None known
Half-life
7.81 hours
Mechanism
During myocardial ischemia, anaerobic metabolism takes over, increasing levels of lactic acid.
Food interactions
2 warnings
Human targets
1 target
Data: DrugBank · CC BY-NC 4.0
Pharmacokinetics at a glance
Absorption
35 mg
Half-life
7.81 hours
Protein binding
15%
[A7692][L33015]
Trimetazidine can bind to human serum albumin.
[A233175]
Volume of distribution
4.8 L/kg
[L33015]
Metabolism
[A233230]…
Elimination
79-84%
[A7692][L33015]…
Clearance
8 mL/min
[L33015]…
Pharmacokinetic data: DrugBank · CC BY-NC 4.0
Acidic conditions, caused by anaerobic metabolism and fatty acid oxidation, in response to myocardial ischemia, activate sodium-hydrogen and sodium-calcium antiport systems.[A233215] The increased intracellular calcium decreases contractility.[A233215] It is hypothesized that trimetazidine inhibits 3-ketoacyl coenzyme A thiolase, which decreases fatty acid oxidation but not glucose metabolism, preventing the acidic conditions that exacerbate ischemic injury.[A7688][L33020] However, evidence for this mechanism is controversial.[A233215]
Trimetazidine is not FDA approved. However, it has been approved in France since 1978.[L33020]
[L33015]
Known interactions with other medications. Always consult a healthcare professional.
Showing 1 of 1 interactions
[L33015]
Treat overdoses with symptomatic and supportive therapy.
[L33015]
The oral LD50 in rats is 1700 mg/kg, and in mice is 1550 mg/kg.
[L33025]
The subcutaneous LD50 in rats is 1500 mg/kg, and in mice is 410 mg/kg.
[L33025]
This injury to the myocardium raises concentrations of catecholamines, which activate hormone sensitive lipase, and increasing fatty acid concentrations in plasma.[A233215] When the myocardium is repurfused, fatty acid oxidation becomes the dominant form of ATP production, maintaining an acidic pH, and further exacerbating the injury.[A233215]
The mechanism of action of trimetazidine is not fully understood.[A233215] Trimetazidine may inhibit mitochondrial 3-ketoacyl coenzyme A thiolase, decreasing long chain fatty acid β-oxidation but not glycolysis in the myocardium.[A7688][L33020] The decreased long chain fatty acid β-oxidation is compensated for by increased use of glucose, preventing a lowered myocardial pH, and further decreases in contractility.[A7688][L33020] However, another study suggests that 3-ketoacyl coenzyme A thiolase may not be trimetazidine's target, and that this mechanism may be incorrect.[A233215]
How the body processes this drug — absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination
[A7692]
In young, healthy patients, the same dose reaches a mean Cmax of 91.2 µg/L, with a Tmax of 2.0-6.0 hours, and an AUC0-12h 720 h\*µg/L.
[A7692]
[A7692][L33015]
In patients over 65, the half life increases to 11.7 hours.
[A7692][L33015]
[A7692][L33015]
Trimetazidine can bind to human serum albumin.
[A233175]
[L33015]
[A233230]
Trimetazidine can also be N-formylated, N-acetylated, or N-methylated at the piperazine ring to form N-formyltrimetazidine, N-acetyltrimetazidine, and N-methyltrimetazidine respectively.
[A233230]
Alternatively, trimetazidine can be demethylated at the 2, 3, or 4 position of the 2,3,4-trimethoxybenzyl moiety to form 2-desmethyltrimetazidine, 3-desmethyltrimetazidine, or 4-desmethyltrimetazidine.
[A233230]
The desmethyltrimetazidine metabolites can undergo sulfate conjugation or glucuronidation prior to elimination.
[A233230]
[A7692][L33015]
In a study of 4 healthy subjects, individual metabolites made up 0.01-1.4% of the dose recovered in urine.
[A233230]
In the urine, 2-desmethyltrimetazidine made up 0-1.4% of the recovered dose, 3- and 4-desmethyltrimetazidine made up 0.039-0.071% each, N-methyltrimetazidine made up 0.015-0.11%, trimetazidine ketopiperazine made up 0.011-0.4%, N-formyltrimetazidine made up 0.035-0.42%, N-acetyltrimetazidine made up 0.016-0.19%, desmethyl trimetazidine O-sulphate made up 0.01-0.65%, and an unknown metabolite made up0.026-0.67%.
[A233230]
[L33015]
In eldery patients with a creatinine clearance of 72 ± 8 mL/min, trimetazidine clearance was 15.69 L/h.
[A7692]
In young, healthy patients with a creatinine clearance of 134 ± 18 mL/min, trimetazidine clearance was 25.2 L/h.
[A7692]
Proteins and enzymes this drug interacts with in the body
Also displays hydrolase activity on various fatty acyl-CoAs .
PMID:25478839
Thereby, could be responsible for the production of acetate in a side reaction to beta-oxidation (Probable). Abolishes BNIP3-mediated apoptosis and mitochondrial damage PMID:18371312
Proteins that carry this drug through the body
PMID:19021548
Major calcium and magnesium transporter in plasma, binds approximately 45% of circulating calcium and magnesium in plasma (By similarity).
Potentially has more than two calcium-binding sites and might additionally bind calcium in a non-specific manner (By similarity). The shared binding site between zinc and calcium at residue Asp-273 suggests a crosstalk between zinc and calcium transport in the blood (By similarity). The rank order of affinity is zinc > calcium > magnesium (By similarity).
Binds to the bacterial siderophore enterobactin and inhibits enterobactin-mediated iron uptake of E.coli from ferric transferrin, and may thereby limit the utilization of iron and growth of enteric bacteria such as E.coli .
PMID:6234017
Does not prevent iron uptake by the bacterial siderophore aerobactin PMID:6234017
ATC C01EB15
Chemical identifiers
CAS, UNII, InChI Key and database cross-references
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Chemical identifiers
CAS, UNII, InChI Key and database cross-references
Linked compound data from DrugBank Open Data (CC BY-NC 4.0)
Trimetazidine
Additional database identifiers
ChemSpider
19853
BindingDB
80613
ZINC
ZINC000019358638
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:83
GeneCards
ACAA2
UniProt Accession
THIM_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:399
GenAtlas
ALB
GeneCards
ALB
GenBank Gene Database
V00494
GenBank Protein Database
28590
UniProt Accession
ALBU_HUMAN
DrugBank citations
If you use DrugBank data in your research, please cite the following publications:
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Structured knowledge from the free knowledge base
ATC classifications (Wikidata)
Linked open data from Wikidata (Q674703), a free and open knowledge base operated by the Wikimedia Foundation. Data is available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Public Domain Dedication. WHO INN from the World Health Organization.