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Overview of Calcium Channel Blockers

Calcium channel blockers work by blocking calcium channels to prevent muscle contraction. They are classified into phenyl alkylamines, benzothiazepines, and dihydropyridines. Dihydropyridines like nifedipine block L-type calcium channels to dilate blood vessels and reduce blood pressure without affecting heart rate. Verapamil and diltiazem also block L-type calcium channels in the heart to decrease the slope of cardiac action potentials. Common side effects include low blood pressure, ankle swelling, gum growth, and constipation.

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39 views2 pages

Overview of Calcium Channel Blockers

Calcium channel blockers work by blocking calcium channels to prevent muscle contraction. They are classified into phenyl alkylamines, benzothiazepines, and dihydropyridines. Dihydropyridines like nifedipine block L-type calcium channels to dilate blood vessels and reduce blood pressure without affecting heart rate. Verapamil and diltiazem also block L-type calcium channels in the heart to decrease the slope of cardiac action potentials. Common side effects include low blood pressure, ankle swelling, gum growth, and constipation.

Uploaded by

sujyotsharma
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Calcium These drugs block

Channel the calcium


channels to prevent

Blockers contraction.

Drugs in this Class

Verapamil

Bepridil

Diltiazem

Nifedipine


Amlodipine

Felodipine

Nicardipine

Nimodipine

Classification
Three classes of calcium channel blockers are

Phenyl alkylamines - Verapamil, Bepridil


Benzothiazepines - Diltiazem
Dihydropyridines - Nifedipine, Amlodipine, Felodipine, Nicardipine, Nimodipine

Pharmacology
Dihydropyridines block the L-type calcium channels to dilate the blood vessels in order to reduce the pressure
leading to hypotension. It does not depress the SA node or AV conduction.
Drugs like Verapamil and Diltiazem work on the heart. They block the L-Type calcium channels which decreases the
slope of phase 4 and phase 0 of Action potential in the nodal tissue.

Adverse Effects
These drugs cause orthostatic hypotension, decrease in cardiac output, ankle edema, Gingival hyperplasia and
constipation.

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