Calcium Channel Blockers
Monday, September 18, 2006
Calcium channel blockers inhibit the movement of calcium into the muscle cells of the heart and arteries. The calcium is needed for these muscles to contract. These drugs, therefore, lower blood pressure by decreasing the force of the heart's pumping action (cardiac contraction) and relaxing the muscle cells in the walls of the arteries. Three major types of calcium channel blockers are used as high blood pressure medicine. One type is the dihydropyridines, which do not slow the heart rate or cause other abnormal heart rates or rhythms. These drugs include amlodipine (Norvasc), sustained release nifedipine (Procardia XL, Adalat CC), felodipine (Plendil), and nisoldipine (Sular).
Tags: high blood pressure medicine, calcium channel blockers, high blood pressure
Tags: high blood pressure medicine, calcium channel blockers, high blood pressure