Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsList of CCBsCommonly PrescribedTypesSide EffectsWho Should Not Take CCBsInteractionsAlternativesFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
List of CCBs
Commonly Prescribed
Types
Side Effects
Who Should Not Take CCBs
Interactions
Alternatives
Frequently Asked Questions
Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) are common drugs that treat high blood pressure, irregular heartbeats, and some causes of chest pain. They help reduce the risk of cardiovascular events like heart attacks and strokes.These medications are also called calcium channel antagonists.
CCBs relax the muscles in the walls of the blood vessels, bringing down high blood pressure.They also reduce the speed of fast heartbeats and the amount of blood the heart pumps.
True to their name, calcium channel blockers block the flow of calcium into the cells of the heart and blood vessels.They are classified into two groups based on their structure and functions.
This article will explain how calcium channel–blocking drugs work, the most common and popular brands of calcium channel blockers, side effects, interactions, indications, and if there are nondrug alternatives to calcium channel blockers.
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List of Calcium Channel Blockers
There are many calcium channel blockers on the market. They all have slightly different uses, features, and side effects.Some medications combine calcium channel blockers with other drugs.
Talk to your healthcare provider about what drugs are the best options for you. Calcium channel blockers fall into several different types, so one is not necessarily the same as the others for a given diagnosis.
Conditions Treated With Calcium Channel BlockersConditions treated with CCBs include:High blood pressure (hypertension)Irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias, includingsupraventricular tachycardia)Chest pain (angina)Thickened heart muscle (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy)
Conditions Treated With Calcium Channel Blockers
Conditions treated with CCBs include:High blood pressure (hypertension)Irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias, includingsupraventricular tachycardia)Chest pain (angina)Thickened heart muscle (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy)
Conditions treated with CCBs include:
If you have side effects from your CCB, let your healthcare provider know. They can discuss lowering the dose or the other options to treat your health issues.
Commonly prescribed CCBs include:
Less common CCBs include:
Some common medications are combinations of CCBs and other drugs. These drugs include:
The two types of calcium channel blockers with different features and uses are:
Most people do not have problems taking their CCBs, but these drugs can have side effects.
The most common side effects of CCBs are:
The two types of calcium channel blockers have different side effects. Dihydropyridines are more likely to cause side effects like feeling lightheaded, dizzy, or flushed.They’re also more likely to cause swelling.
Non-dihydropyridines, on the other hand, may cause constipation, a slow heartbeat, or a reduction in the heart’s pumping ability.The non-dihydropyridines generally have fewer side effects.
Specific Side Effects
Among the most popular calcium channel blockers, there are some specific side effects to be aware of:
Less common side effects include:
Who Should Not Take CCB Medications?
If your healthcare provider is considering prescribing you a calcium channel blocker, make sure they know about the following:
Before taking a calcium channel blocker, let your healthcare provider know all your medicines and supplements.
When mixed with other drugs or supplements, CCBs can have adverse effects. This even applies to what you eat. These drugs may have interactions with certain foods, including grapefruit and magnesium.
Some CCBs, including felodipine and nisoldipine, interact with grapefruit. After taking your medicine, wait four hours to eat or drink grapefruit. Grapefruit can impact how your body breaks down these drugs, leading to dangerously high levels.Pomegranate juicehas the same chemical that may interact with calcium channel blockers.
Talk to your healthcare provider about your magnesium intake. Magnesium is in nuts, bananas, spinach, okra, brown rice, and shredded wheat cereal.High magnesium levels in the diet may impact how your body uses calcium channel blockers.
Other medications and supplements that might interact with CCBs include:
Check the warnings and interactions label for specific drugs, foods, and supplements that may interact with any CCB (or other medicine) you’re taking.
Your healthcare provider will also tell you not to smoke when taking a CCB. The interaction of nicotine and tobacco with the drug could result in a potentially dangerous rapid heartbeat.
If you’re taking a combination drug, check for other interactions the drugs may have.
Alternatives to CCB Medications
Beta blockersare often the preferred medication for angina, so ask your healthcare provider if they might be an option.
Lifestyle changes are the best way to control high blood pressure. These include:
These changes can help reduce the need for blood pressure medicine in some people. Talk to your healthcare provider about lifestyle changes that could help you reduce or wean off your calcium channel blockers.
If you’re experiencing side effects from your calcium channel blockers, talk to your healthcare provider about trying a different type ofhigh blood pressure medication. These may include:
Summary
Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) are common drugs. They treat high blood pressure, irregular heartbeats, and some causes of chest pain. They help prevent heart attacks and strokes.
The most common calcium channel blockers are Verelan, Norvasc, and Dilacor. Common side effects include fatigue, flushing, swelling, and heartburn.
Tell your healthcare provider about your allergies and other illnesses. Make sure to mention previous heart issues in your personal or family history. And tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or want to get pregnant.
Some CCBs interact with grapefruit juice, magnesium in the diet, and other drugs. Your healthcare provider will tell you to stop smoking.
If you don’t want to take a CCB, you can try many other high blood pressure medication types. You can also make lifestyle changes to bring down high blood pressure.
A Word From Verywell
If you’ve been diagnosed with high blood pressure or another heart issue, your healthcare provider may put you on calcium channel blockers. These medications can help prevent further heart problems, especially dangerous events like heart attacks and strokes.
These are widespread medicines, and they’re generally well tolerated. If you have side effects, there are many other drugs your doctor can try. If you have high blood pressure, you can also work toward getting off these medicines with lifestyle changes.
Most people do not have problems taking their calcium channel blockers, but these drugs can have side effects. Benzothiazepines (diltiazem) and phenylalkylamines (verapamil) generally have fewer side effects. The best CCB for you is based on many factors you can discuss with your healthcare provider.Learn MoreCalcium Channel Blockers for Hypertension
Most people do not have problems taking their calcium channel blockers, but these drugs can have side effects. Benzothiazepines (diltiazem) and phenylalkylamines (verapamil) generally have fewer side effects. The best CCB for you is based on many factors you can discuss with your healthcare provider.
Learn MoreCalcium Channel Blockers for Hypertension
If you aren’t tolerating calcium channel blockers well, consider a different type of high blood pressure medication. These may include diuretics, beta blockers, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers, and vasodilators.In addition, lifestyle changes like eating better and getting more active can help lower high blood pressure naturally, reducing the need for medications. Talk to your healthcare provider about lifestyle changes that could help you reduce or wean off your calcium channel blockers.Learn MoreMedications Used to Treat High Blood Pressure
If you aren’t tolerating calcium channel blockers well, consider a different type of high blood pressure medication. These may include diuretics, beta blockers, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers, and vasodilators.In addition, lifestyle changes like eating better and getting more active can help lower high blood pressure naturally, reducing the need for medications. Talk to your healthcare provider about lifestyle changes that could help you reduce or wean off your calcium channel blockers.
If you aren’t tolerating calcium channel blockers well, consider a different type of high blood pressure medication. These may include diuretics, beta blockers, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers, and vasodilators.
In addition, lifestyle changes like eating better and getting more active can help lower high blood pressure naturally, reducing the need for medications. Talk to your healthcare provider about lifestyle changes that could help you reduce or wean off your calcium channel blockers.
Learn MoreMedications Used to Treat High Blood Pressure
20 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.UpToDate.Major side effects and safety of calcium blockers.American Heart Association.Types of blood pressure medications.Whelton PK, Carey RM, Aronow WS, et al.2017 ACC/AHA/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/AGS/APhA/ASH/ASPC/NMA/PCNA guideline for the prevention, detection, evaluation, and treatment of high blood pressure in adults: executive summary: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines.Hypertension. 2018;71(6):1269-1324. doi:10.1161/HYP.0000000000000066Helton M.Diagnosis and management of common types of supraventricular tachycardia.Am Fam Physician. 2015;92(9):793-802.Kim HL.A new perspective on calcium channel blockers in vasospastic angina.Korean J Intern Med. 2021;36(1):63-64. doi:10.3904/kjim.2020.628American Heart Association.Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).Godfraind T.Calcium channel blockers in cardiovascular pharmacotherapy.J Cardiovasc Pharmacol Ther. 2014;19(6):501-15. doi:10.1177/1074248414530508Texas Heart Institute.Calcium channel blockers.McKeever RG, Hamilton RJ.Calcium channel blockers. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022. Copy editor: allowing this as it is the best source and has been verified in comparing other sources also on the “use sparingly” list.MedlinePlus.Verapamil.Food and Drug Administration.Norvasc (amlodipine besylate) tablets label.Food and Drug Administration.Cardizem label.DailyMed.Procardia XL.MedlinePlus.Nicardipine.Heart & Stroke Foundation.Calcium channel blockers.Kaiser Permanente.Amlodipine-atorvastatin.Live Science.What are magnesium supplements?Wee Y, Burns K, Bett N.Medical management of chronic stable angina.Aust Prescr. 2015;38(4):131-6. doi:10.18773/austprescr.2015.042American Heart Association.Changes you can make to manage high blood pressure.Food and Drug Administration.Teva Pharmaceuticals USA issues voluntary nationwide recall of all amlodipine/valsartan combination tablets and amlodipine/valsartan/hydrochlorothiazide combination tablets that are within expiry.
20 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.UpToDate.Major side effects and safety of calcium blockers.American Heart Association.Types of blood pressure medications.Whelton PK, Carey RM, Aronow WS, et al.2017 ACC/AHA/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/AGS/APhA/ASH/ASPC/NMA/PCNA guideline for the prevention, detection, evaluation, and treatment of high blood pressure in adults: executive summary: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines.Hypertension. 2018;71(6):1269-1324. doi:10.1161/HYP.0000000000000066Helton M.Diagnosis and management of common types of supraventricular tachycardia.Am Fam Physician. 2015;92(9):793-802.Kim HL.A new perspective on calcium channel blockers in vasospastic angina.Korean J Intern Med. 2021;36(1):63-64. doi:10.3904/kjim.2020.628American Heart Association.Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).Godfraind T.Calcium channel blockers in cardiovascular pharmacotherapy.J Cardiovasc Pharmacol Ther. 2014;19(6):501-15. doi:10.1177/1074248414530508Texas Heart Institute.Calcium channel blockers.McKeever RG, Hamilton RJ.Calcium channel blockers. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022. Copy editor: allowing this as it is the best source and has been verified in comparing other sources also on the “use sparingly” list.MedlinePlus.Verapamil.Food and Drug Administration.Norvasc (amlodipine besylate) tablets label.Food and Drug Administration.Cardizem label.DailyMed.Procardia XL.MedlinePlus.Nicardipine.Heart & Stroke Foundation.Calcium channel blockers.Kaiser Permanente.Amlodipine-atorvastatin.Live Science.What are magnesium supplements?Wee Y, Burns K, Bett N.Medical management of chronic stable angina.Aust Prescr. 2015;38(4):131-6. doi:10.18773/austprescr.2015.042American Heart Association.Changes you can make to manage high blood pressure.Food and Drug Administration.Teva Pharmaceuticals USA issues voluntary nationwide recall of all amlodipine/valsartan combination tablets and amlodipine/valsartan/hydrochlorothiazide combination tablets that are within expiry.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
UpToDate.Major side effects and safety of calcium blockers.American Heart Association.Types of blood pressure medications.Whelton PK, Carey RM, Aronow WS, et al.2017 ACC/AHA/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/AGS/APhA/ASH/ASPC/NMA/PCNA guideline for the prevention, detection, evaluation, and treatment of high blood pressure in adults: executive summary: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines.Hypertension. 2018;71(6):1269-1324. doi:10.1161/HYP.0000000000000066Helton M.Diagnosis and management of common types of supraventricular tachycardia.Am Fam Physician. 2015;92(9):793-802.Kim HL.A new perspective on calcium channel blockers in vasospastic angina.Korean J Intern Med. 2021;36(1):63-64. doi:10.3904/kjim.2020.628American Heart Association.Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).Godfraind T.Calcium channel blockers in cardiovascular pharmacotherapy.J Cardiovasc Pharmacol Ther. 2014;19(6):501-15. doi:10.1177/1074248414530508Texas Heart Institute.Calcium channel blockers.McKeever RG, Hamilton RJ.Calcium channel blockers. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022. Copy editor: allowing this as it is the best source and has been verified in comparing other sources also on the “use sparingly” list.MedlinePlus.Verapamil.Food and Drug Administration.Norvasc (amlodipine besylate) tablets label.Food and Drug Administration.Cardizem label.DailyMed.Procardia XL.MedlinePlus.Nicardipine.Heart & Stroke Foundation.Calcium channel blockers.Kaiser Permanente.Amlodipine-atorvastatin.Live Science.What are magnesium supplements?Wee Y, Burns K, Bett N.Medical management of chronic stable angina.Aust Prescr. 2015;38(4):131-6. doi:10.18773/austprescr.2015.042American Heart Association.Changes you can make to manage high blood pressure.Food and Drug Administration.Teva Pharmaceuticals USA issues voluntary nationwide recall of all amlodipine/valsartan combination tablets and amlodipine/valsartan/hydrochlorothiazide combination tablets that are within expiry.
UpToDate.Major side effects and safety of calcium blockers.
American Heart Association.Types of blood pressure medications.
Whelton PK, Carey RM, Aronow WS, et al.2017 ACC/AHA/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/AGS/APhA/ASH/ASPC/NMA/PCNA guideline for the prevention, detection, evaluation, and treatment of high blood pressure in adults: executive summary: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines.Hypertension. 2018;71(6):1269-1324. doi:10.1161/HYP.0000000000000066
Helton M.Diagnosis and management of common types of supraventricular tachycardia.Am Fam Physician. 2015;92(9):793-802.
Kim HL.A new perspective on calcium channel blockers in vasospastic angina.Korean J Intern Med. 2021;36(1):63-64. doi:10.3904/kjim.2020.628
American Heart Association.Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).
Godfraind T.Calcium channel blockers in cardiovascular pharmacotherapy.J Cardiovasc Pharmacol Ther. 2014;19(6):501-15. doi:10.1177/1074248414530508
Texas Heart Institute.Calcium channel blockers.
McKeever RG, Hamilton RJ.Calcium channel blockers. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022. Copy editor: allowing this as it is the best source and has been verified in comparing other sources also on the “use sparingly” list.
MedlinePlus.Verapamil.
Food and Drug Administration.Norvasc (amlodipine besylate) tablets label.
Food and Drug Administration.Cardizem label.
DailyMed.Procardia XL.
MedlinePlus.Nicardipine.
Heart & Stroke Foundation.Calcium channel blockers.
Kaiser Permanente.Amlodipine-atorvastatin.
Live Science.What are magnesium supplements?
Wee Y, Burns K, Bett N.Medical management of chronic stable angina.Aust Prescr. 2015;38(4):131-6. doi:10.18773/austprescr.2015.042
American Heart Association.Changes you can make to manage high blood pressure.
Food and Drug Administration.Teva Pharmaceuticals USA issues voluntary nationwide recall of all amlodipine/valsartan combination tablets and amlodipine/valsartan/hydrochlorothiazide combination tablets that are within expiry.
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