Calcium channel blockers

These remedies lessen blood pressure and take care of other disorders these as upper body discomfort and an irregular heartbeat.

By Mayo Clinic Team

Calcium channel blockers are medications applied to decreased blood strain. They do the job by protecting against calcium from moving into the cells of the coronary heart and arteries. Calcium leads to the coronary heart and arteries to squeeze (contract) extra strongly. By blocking calcium, calcium channel blockers allow for blood vessels to chill out and open up.

Some calcium channel blockers can also gradual the heart charge, which can even more decrease blood stress. The drugs may well also be recommended to reduce upper body discomfort (angina) and regulate an irregular heartbeat.

Calcium channel blockers are also named calcium antagonists.

Illustrations of calcium channel blockers

Calcium channel blockers are accessible in brief-acting and long-performing types. Limited-acting remedies operate quickly, but their effects past only a couple several hours. Prolonged-performing medicines are slowly introduced to deliver a more time long lasting outcome. Which 1 is ideal for you relies upon on your wellness and the problem becoming addressed.

Illustrations of calcium channel blockers include:

  • Amlodipine (Norvasc)
  • Diltiazem (Cardizem, Tiazac, many others)
  • Felodipine
  • Isradipine
  • Nicardipine
  • Nifedipine (Procardia)
  • Nisoldipine (Sular)
  • Verapamil (Calan SR, Verelan)

Sometimes, a doctor could possibly prescribe a calcium channel blocker with other substantial blood stress drugs or with cholesterol-reducing medication these as statins.

When calcium channel blockers are utilised

In addition to being applied to treat large blood stress, a doctor also may perhaps prescribe calcium channel blockers to stop, deal with or boost signs of situations, this sort of as:

  • Coronary artery illness
  • Upper body pain (angina)
  • Irregular heartbeats (arrhythmia)
  • Blood vessel disorders, these as Raynaud’s ailment

For blacks and older folks, calcium channel blockers may possibly work superior than other blood pressure drugs, this kind of as beta blockers, angiotensin-changing enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor blockers.

Aspect effects

Facet effects of calcium channel blockers may possibly include:

  • Constipation
  • Dizziness
  • Speedy heartbeat (palpitations)
  • Exhaustion
  • Flushing
  • Headache
  • Nausea
  • Rash
  • Inflammation in the feet and reduced legs

Stay away from grapefruit products even though having certain calcium channel blockers. Grapefruit juice interacts with the drug and can have an effect on heart charge and blood pressure. This can result in signs and symptoms this sort of as problems and dizziness.