Whats the evidence for calcium channel blockers?
There is good evidence that taking calcium channel blockers can lower blood pressure. [2] [3] We also know that taking calcium channel blockers reduces your risk of getting heart diseaseor having a stroke, and may help you live longer. [2] [3] There is also evidence that taking calcium channel blockers works as well as taking other treatments used to lower blood pressure ( beta-blockers, diuretics and ACE inhibitors). We know this from two large summaries of 18 good-quality studies that looked at the effects of calcium channel blockers (as well as other drugs that reduce blood pressure) in more than 45,000 people. [4] [1] Two other summaries of the research and one other study have also shown that taking calcium channel blockers works as well as taking some other drugs to reduce blood pressure: diuretics, beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, ARBs and alpha-blockers. [5] [6] [7] [8] Again, these summaries were large and looked at many good studies. In all, the studies included more than 120,0
