Calcium Channel Blockers (CCBs)

Calcium channel blockers were first identified in the lab of German

pharmacologist Albrecht Fleckenstein in 1964. These drugs disrupt the
movement of calcium; they are most commonly used as anti-hypertensive drugs
in order to decrease blood pressure in patients who are hypertensive. They are
often used with elderly patients to reduce stiffness of large vessels. They are also
used to alter heart rate and prevent vasospasm, which is a prolonged
constriction of major arteries in the body.
Recently, some are being used as migraine
preventers and powerful painkillers.
In the body's tissues, the concentration of
calcium ions outside of cells is thousands of
times higher than the concentration inside
of cells. Embedded in the membrane of
some cells are calcium channels. When
these cells receive a certain signal, the
channels open, letting calcium rush into the
cell. The resulting increase in intracellular
calcium has different effects in different types of cells. Calcium channel blockers
prevent or reduce the opening of these channels and thereby reduce these
effects
CCBs used as medications primarily have three effects:

By acting on smooth muscle they reduce contraction of the arteries and

cause an increase in arterial diameter, known as vasodilation.

By acting on cardiac muscles (myocardium), they reduce the force of

contraction of the heart

By slowing down the conduction of electrical activity within the heart, they
slow down the heart beat.

These effects cause an overall decrease in blood pressure, since it depends on

the force of contraction and resistance of the arteries.
However, these drugs are associated with several side-effects and prolonged use
of them can lead to complications. Therefore CCBs are usually are not used
alone but are part of a combination of drugs used for the treatment. Side effects
of these drugs may include but are not limited to:
Different classes of CCBs

Dizziness, headache, redness in the face

Fluid build up in the legs and ankle edema

Slow heart rate

Dihydropyridine
Non-dihydropyridine
o Phenylalkylamine
o Benzothiazepine
o Nonselective

Constipation

Gingival overgrowth

Gingival (soft
tissue in the
mouth/gums)
overgrowth

Ankle
Edema