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Benefits & Risks of Calcium Channel Blockers

Calcium channel blockers, also known as CCBs, are a group of medicines that promote heart health by reducing the power of the heart's pump, thus promoting healthier, more relaxed blood flow. CCBs prevent too much calcium from getting through the bloodstream and into the heart. They may be used to relieve a variety of conditions, such as cardiac arrhythmia, hypertension and chest pain.

  1. When are CCB's Prescribed?

    • A doctor may choose to prescribe CCBs, normally in conjunction with other medications, as a first-line treatment for a variety of maladies. Individuals with angina, a high risk of stroke or irregular heartbeats---and especially individuals with more than one of these issues---are encouraged to begin CCBs before attempting other treatments. They are not, however, recommended to patients with high blood pressure who do not exhibit other symptoms or heart conditions. Heart failure patients should not take CCBs.

    Dosage

    • Use of calcium channel blockers is regulated and recommended by licensed cardiologists. If a patient is unsure how much he must take, a doctor or pharmacist should be contacted immediately and asked for specific instructions. Taking too much or too little can present serious problems in patients with heart disease. Varying amounts of the drug may be prescribed to individuals with different ailments; as such, frequency and method by which the medicine should be taken must be done under doctor supervision.

    Benefits

    • Most CCBs are very low in cost but extremely effective. Low- to moderate-cost options are available at pharmacies. Decreasing blood pressure as a result of CCB use can be life-saving. Moreover, CCBs have been determined by some groups to be safer than medications used for similar purposes, such as ACE inhibitors and beta blockers.

    Risks

    • CCBs may interact with other drugs and cause them to be less effective, and may even cause severe reactions in patients. High doses of one of the more common calcium channel blockers called nifedipine can be extremely dangerous, and the American Heart Association recommends that doctors use it cautiously and in low doses, if at all. Side effects such as heartburn, swelling in the extremities and exhaustion have been reported by some users. Rare side effects are more serious---some, like erratic heartbeat and increased chest pain, can be very alarming and quite dangerous.

    Overdose

    • Patients who fear they are receiving too high a dose of medication, particularly nifedipine, are not encouraged to discontinue treatment unadvised. Rather, they should call their doctor and explore the options with him to ensure the proper level of care is being administered. A full evaluation of one's condition may reveal that use of high doses of CCBs is necessary for an individual's well being.

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