Who benefits from calcium channel blockers?
The calcium channel blockers are particularly effective in the elderly and patients with systolic hypertension. It is also of benefit in the prevention of stroke in these patients. Due to the vasodilation some calcium antagonists are sometimes used in patients with narrowed arteries in the legs. The nondihydropyridines not only dilates blood vessels, but also affects the muscle and electrical activity of the heart. Therefore these drugs can be helpful in treating patients with angina. Compelling indications for use as anti-hypertensive drug: • Angina (nondihydropyridines). • Elderly patients. • In patients with systolic hypertension. • African patients. Possible indications: • Peripheral vascular disease (poor circulation to the legs). • After a heart attack – sometimes nondihyropyridines are used if beta-blockers are contraindicated. • Certain types of irregularity of heart rhythm. • Migraine (nondihydropyridines). Who should not take calcium channel blockers? The nondihydropyridines
