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Calcium channel blockers
Uses for calcium channel blockers
Doctors prescribe calcium channel blockers to prevent, treat or improve symptoms in a variety of conditions, such as:
- High blood pressure
- Chest pain (angina)
- Migraines
- Brain aneurysm complications
- Irregular heartbeats (arrhythmia)
- Some circulatory conditions, such as Raynaud's disease
- High blood pressure that affects the arteries in your lungs (pulmonary hypertension)
Several studies have found that calcium channel blockers aren't as effective as diuretics, beta blockers or angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors at lowering blood pressure. Because of this, calcium channel blockers aren't usually the first medication you'd be prescribed to lower your blood pressure.
However, for blacks, calcium channel blockers may be more effective than other blood pressure medications, such as beta blockers, ACE inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor blockers.
Side effects and cautions
Side effects of calcium channel blockers may include:
- Constipation
- Headache
- Rapid heartbeat (tachycardia)
- Rash
- Drowsiness
- Flushing
- Nausea
- Swelling in the feet and lower legs
Certain calcium channel blockers interact with grapefruit products. Don't take these medications with grapefruit or grapefruit juice because they can reduce your liver's ability to eliminate calcium channel blockers from your body, allowing the medications to build up in your body.
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- Kaplan NM, et al. Major side effects and safety of calcium channel blockers. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index. Accessed Nov. 13, 2008.
- Chobanian AV, et al. The seventh report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure. New England Journal of Medicine. 2003;289:2560.
- Initial antihypertensive therapy: Drugdex Consults. Micromedex Healthcare Series. http://www.micromedex.com/. Accessed Nov. 12, 2008.
- Blood pressure-lowering drugs. American Heart Association. http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=159. Accessed Nov. 12, 2008.
- Sheps SG, ed. Mayo Clinic 5 Steps to Controlling High Blood Pressure. Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; 2008:184.
