Nondihydropyridine calcium antagonist

In symptomatic patients, medical therapy can be tailored either to control ventricular response or to restore sinus rhythm. Nondihydropyridine calcium antagonists (e.g., verapamil) are considered first-line drug therapy for decreasing ventricular response. Type I agents (e.g., procainamide, quinidine) are only occasionally effective in restoring sinus rhythm. DCC is ineffective, and /3-blockers are usually contraindicated because of coexisting severe pulmonary disease or uncompensated HF. 

Clopidogrel may be substituted for aspirin when aspirin is absolutely contraindicated Long-acting nondihydropyridine calcium antagonists instead of /3-blockers as initial therapy ACEIs are recommended in patients with CAD or other vascular disease Low-intensity anticoagulation with warfarin, in addition to aspirin, is recommended but bleeding would be increased Therapies to be avoided include ... 

Patients with asymptomatic left ventricular systolic dysfunction and hypertension should be treated with P-blockers and ACE inhibitors. Those with heart failure secondary to left ventricular dysfunction and hypertension should be treated with drugs proven to also reduce the morbidity and mortality of heart failure, including P-blockers, ACE inhibitors, ARBs, aldosterone antagonists, and diuretics for symptom control as well as antihypertensive effect. In African-Americans with heart failure and left ventricular systolic dysfunction, combination therapy with nitrates and hydralazine not only affords a morbidity and mortality benefit, but may also be useful as antihypertensive therapy if needed.66 The dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers amlodipine or felodipine may also be used in patients with heart failure and left ventricular systolic dysfunction for uncontrolled blood pressure, although they have no effect on heart failure morbidity and mortality in these patients.49 For patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction, antihypertensive therapies that should be considered include P-blockers, ACE inhibitors, ARBs, calcium channel blockers (including nondihydropyridine agents), diuretics, and others as needed to control blood pressure.2,49... 

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