Klin Farmakol Farm. 2018;32(1):22-26 | DOI: 10.36290/far.2018.005

Calcium channel blockers after 50 years

Jiří Špác, Markéta Vyskočilová

II. interní klinika LF MU, Fakultní nemocnice u sv. Anny v Brně

Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) were initially developed in the 1960 and are now among the most frequently prescribed drugsfor the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. CCBs inhibit the inward-flow of calcium ions causing systemic vasodilation. They areused in the treatment of various cardiovascular diseases including angina pectoris, hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias and may bebeneficial in patients with pulmonary hypertension and Raynaud’s phenomenon. There are three classes of CCBs: dihydropyridine(DHP), phenylalkylamine and benzothiazepine derivatives. These classes differ in chemical structure and binding sites resulting indiffering cardiac effects. Long-acting dihydropiridine calcium antagonists are safe in patients with stable coronary artery diseaseand are associated with fewer angina pectoris-related events, such as hospitalization for unstable angina and revascularizationprocedures. Nondihydropyridine calcium channel blockers (verapamil, diltiazem) are more negatively chronotropic and inotropicthan the dihydropyridine subclass, which is important for patients with cardiac dysrhythmias and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Keywords: calcium channel blockers, chronic ischemic heart disease, hypertension, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, hert failure

Published: May 31, 2018  Show citation