Calcium Channel Blockers for High Blood Pressure: Calcium channel blockers are drugs used to lower blood pressure. Learn more about how they work and about their side effects. Calcium channel blockers differ in their duration of action, the process by which they are eliminated from the body, and, most importantly, in their ability to affect heart rate and contraction. Some calcium channel blockers (for example, amlodipine [Norvasc]) have very little effect on heart rate and contraction so they are safer to use in individuals who have heart failure or bradycardia (a slow heart rate). Verapamil (Calan, Isoptin) and diltiazem (Cardizem) have the greatest effects on ... Currently, approved calcium-channel blockers (CCBs) bind to L-type calcium channels on vascular smooth muscle, cardiac myocytes, and cardiac nodal tissue (sinoatrial and atrioventricular nodes). These channels regulate the influx of calcium into cells. Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) are essential medications used primarily to manage high blood pressure, angina, and arrhythmias. 1 This comprehensive guide outlines the various types of CCBs, the common brands like Norvasc (amlodipine), and the side effects, helping you make informed decisions in collaboration with your healthcare provider.
