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4) Calcium Channel Blockers
Calcium channel blockers are a large family of medications that act by blocking the calcium channels found in different types of muscles. Depending on their chemical structure and their site of activity into dihydropyridines and non-dihydropyridines. The former is the one used in hypertension as it acts on blood vessels. They include medications like amlodipine and nifedipine.
Calcium channel blockers are the first medications used in treating hypertension in those above 50 years old or those of black ethnicity. This is because their hypertension tends to be caused by a problem in the blood vessels rather than an excess of angiotensin which is treated by ACE inhibitors or ARBs. The main problem with calcium channel blockers, however, is that they are not suitable for patients with heart failure and those who have heart block – heart block is a defect in the electrical system of the heart which causes slow heart beats.
Calcium channel blockers have some side effects including leg swelling, constipation and dizziness, but they are mostly tolerated. They can also be combined with diuretics, ACE inhibitors or both in resistant cases, but they are never combined with beta blockers.
