Calcium channel blocker

Calcium channel blockers
Drug class
Class identifiers
Usehypertension, arrhythmia, cluster headache[1]
ATC codeC08
External links
MeSHD002121
Legal status
In Wikidata

Calcium channel blockers (CCB), calcium channel antagonists or calcium antagonists[2] are a group of medications that disrupt the movement of calcium (Ca2+
) through calcium channels.[3] Calcium channel blockers are used as antihypertensive drugs, i.e., as medications to decrease blood pressure in patients with hypertension. CCBs are particularly effective against large vessel stiffness, one of the common causes of elevated systolic blood pressure in elderly patients.[4] Calcium channel blockers are also frequently used to alter heart rate (especially from atrial fibrillation), to prevent peripheral and cerebral vasospasm, and to reduce chest pain caused by angina pectoris.

N-type, L-type, and T-type voltage-dependent calcium channels are present in the zona glomerulosa of the human adrenal gland, and CCBs can directly influence the biosynthesis of aldosterone in adrenocortical cells, with consequent impact on the clinical treatment of hypertension with these agents.[5]

CCBs have been shown to be slightly more effective than beta blockers at lowering cardiovascular mortality associated with stroke, but they are associated with more side effects.[6][7] Potential major risks however were mainly found to be associated with short-acting CCBs.[8]

  1. ^ Tfelt-Hansen P, Tfelt-Hansen J (2009). "Verapamil for cluster headache. Clinical pharmacology and possible mode of action". Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain. 49 (1): 117–25. doi:10.1111/j.1526-4610.2008.01298.x. PMID 19125880.
  2. ^ Olson K (2011). "40. Calcium Channel Antagonists". Poisoning & drug overdose (6th ed.). McGraw-Hill Medical. ISBN 978-0-07-166833-0.
  3. ^ "calcium channel blocker" at Dorland's Medical Dictionary
  4. ^ Nelson M (2010). "Drug treatment of elevated blood pressure". Australian Prescriber. 33 (4): 108–12. doi:10.18773/austprescr.2010.055.
  5. ^ Felizola SJ, Maekawa T, Nakamura Y, Satoh F, Ono Y, Kikuchi K, Aritomi S, Ikeda K, Yoshimura M, Tojo K, Sasano H (2014). "Voltage-gated calcium channels in the human adrenal and primary aldosteronism". J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 144 (part B): 410–16. doi:10.1016/j.jsbmb.2014.08.012. PMID 25151951. S2CID 23622821.
  6. ^ Chen N, Zhou M, Yang M, Guo J, Zhu C, Yang J, Wang Y, Yang X, He L (2010). "Calcium channel blockers versus other classes of drugs for hypertension". Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 8 (8): CD003654. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD003654.pub4. PMID 20687074.
  7. ^ "Calcium Channel Blockers". MedicineNet. p. 2. Archived from the original on 2012-04-21. Retrieved 2013-01-19.
  8. ^ Norman M Kaplan, MD, Burton D Rose, MD (Apr 3, 2000). "Major side effects and safety of calcium channel blockers". Chinese Medical & Biological Information. Archived from the original on December 30, 2011. Retrieved July 23, 2012.