CALCIUM CHANNEL BLOCKERS

SUMMARY

1. Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) depress cardiac contractility.

2. Types: dihydropyridines (amlodipine, felodipine, nicardipine), or non-dihydropyridines (verapamil and diltiazem), that also reduce HR.

3. SE may include diuretic-resistant edema (especially with dihydropyridines) and constipation (especially with verapamil).

4. Edema seems to form because the drugs vasodilate and fluid leaks into the interstitium, less likely to occur if the dihydropyridine is given with an ACEI.

5. Because of negative inotropic and chronotropic effects, do not give verapamil or diltiazem to patients also taking beta-blockers or who have heart blocks or severe heart failure.

Reference(s)

Wilkinson, I., Furmedge, D. and Sinharay, R. (2017). Oxford handbook of clinical medicine. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Get it on Amazon.
Feather, A., Randall, D. and Waterhouse, M. (2020). Kumar And Clark’s Clinical Medicine. 10th ed. S.L.: Elsevier Health Sciences. Get it on Amazon.
Hannaman, R. A., Bullock, L., Hatchell, C. A., & Yoffe, M. (2016). Internal medicine review core curriculum, 2017-2018. CO Springs, CO: MedStudy.
Therapeutic Guidelines. Melbourne: Therapeutic Guidelines Limited. https://www.tg.org.au [Accessed 2021].