Calcium Channel Blockers

• Blocks the calcium channel in VSM (vascular smooth muscle)
•      - calcium increases muscle contractility, peripheral resistance, and BP
•      - inhibits the transport of calcium into the myocardial and VSM cells resulting in inhibition of excitation-contraction coupling and cond contraction
•      - Systemic vasodilation - decreased BP

Coronary vasodilation - decreased frequency and severity of angina

decrease ventricular rate in atrial fibrillation

Large central arteries are not as sensitive to calcium blockers as coronary and cerebral arteries and peripheral vessels

highly protien bound

short half life

diltiazem - Cardizem: peripheral edema

HA, flushing, peripheral edema

pedi, geri, OB, lactation

• diltiazem  -  Cardizem
• nifedipine  -  Procardia, Adalat
• verapamil  -  Calan, Isoptin
• nicardipine  -  Cardene