Calcium channel blockers are a group of medications that are used as hypertensive medications. They are used to reduce high blood pressure by blocking the movement in the calcium channels. This medication is generally prescribed to people with high blood pressure, angina, atrial fibrillation, supraventricular tachycardia, pulmonary hypertension, cardiomyopathy and others. Calcium channel blockers are effective in preventing migraine headaches, subarachnoid hemorrhage, to alter heart rates, and for reducing cardiovascular mortality. Calcium channel blockers act by blocking calcium (Ca2+) entry into the cells. By blocking the entry of Ca2+ into the muscles of the coronary and peripheral arteries, and the heart, there is muscle dilation; however, each calcium channel blocker might have a different mechanism of action. While some of them work on the muscles of the heart, others work both on the muscles of the heart and the arteries. Most calcium channel blockers bind to the L-type calcium channels. These channels are located in the vascular smooth muscles, cardiac nodal tissue, and cardiac myocytes. By targeting these channels, the amount of calcium entering the muscle cells can be regulated. Some side effects of calcium channel blockers include headache, flushing, edema, constipation, reflex tachycardia, low blood pressure, drowsiness, rashes, and dizziness. People who already have bradycardia (See: Bradycardia), and conduction defects of the heart are not prescribed calcium channel blockers due to their nature of inducing reduced reflex responses. People with diabetes also tend to have hypertension as a comorbidity. This is due to the metabolic syndrome, dyslipidemia, and hypertriglyceridemia. Calcium channel blockers are generally prescribed for some patients with diabetic nephropathy to control hypertension and to reduce proteinuria. Some studies indicate that certain calcium channel blockers like verapamil reduce serum glucose levels in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes patients. The reduction is higher in people with type 1 diabetes. However, when it comes to the reduction of cardiovascular events in people with diabetes, some studies indicate that ACE inhibitors and beta blockers might be superior and the use of calcium channel blockers is done better in conjunction with ACE inhibitors and beta blockers.
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