Dihydropyridine calcium-channel blockers Dihydropyridines

The so-called calcium channel blockers constitute a class of cardiovascular agents that have gained prominence in the past few years. These drugs, which obtund contraction of arterial vessels by preventing the movement of calcium ions needed for those contractions, have proved especially useful in the treatment of angina and hypertension. Dihydropyridines such as nifedipine (30) are par-... 

ACE inhibitors - AT antagonists - Alpha blockers - Beta blockers Isolated syslolic hypertension (older patienls) - Diuretics preferred (generally Thiazides) - Long-acting dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker... 

The dihydropyridine-sensitive Cav1.2 calcium channel, that is essential for smooth muscle contration and the target for the calcium channel blocker/calcium antagonists. 

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... 

Treatment with nondihydropyridine calcium channel blockers (diltiazem and verapamil) may worsen HF and increase the risk of death in patients with advanced LV dysfunction due to their negative inotropic effects. Conversely, dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers, although negative inotropes in vitro, do not appear to decrease contractility in vivo. Amlodipine and felodipine are the two most extensively studied dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers for systolic H F.39 4() These two agents have not been shown to affect patient survival, either positively or negatively. As such, they are not routinely recommended as part of a standard HF regimen however, amlodipine and felodipine can safely be used... 

In randomized, controlled, clinical trials, calcium channel blockers were as effective as p-blockers at preventing ischemic symptoms. Calcium channel blockers are recommended as initial treatment in IHD when /3-blockers are contraindicated or not tolerated. In addition, CCBs may be used in combination with /3-blockers when initial treatment is unsuccessful. However, the combination of a (1-blocker with either verapamil or diltiazem should be used with extreme caution since all of these drugs decrease AV nodal conduction, increasing the risk for severe bradycardia or AV block when used together. If combination therapy is warranted, a long-acting dihydropyridine CCB is preferred. (3-Blockers will prevent reflex increases in sympathetic tone and heart rate with the use of calcium channel blockers with potent vasodilatory effects. 

Current data suggest little benefit on clinical outcomes beyond symptom relief for calcium channel blockers in the setting of ACS.43 Moreover, the use of first-generation shortacting dihydropyridines, such as nifedipine, should be avoided because they appear to worsen outcomes through their negative inotropic effects, induction of reflex sympathetic activation, tachycardia, and increased myocardial ischemia.43 Therefore, calcium channel blockers should be avoided in the acute management of MI unless there is a clear symptomatic need or a contraindication to p-blockers. 

Adverse effects and contraindications of calcium channel blockers are described in Table 5-2. Verapamil, diltiazem, and first-generation dihydropyridines should also be avoided in patients with acute decompensated heart failure or left... 

Dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers Dopamine Estrogen Ethanol... 

The nondihydropyridine calcium channel blockers have been shown to also decrease protein excretion in patients with diabetes,20 but the reduction in proteinuria appears to be related to the reductions in blood pressure. The maximal effect of nondihydropyridine calcium channel blockers on proteinuria is seen with a blood pressure reduction to less than 130/80 mm Hg and no additional benefit is seen with increased doses. Dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers, however, do not have the same effects on protein excretion, and may actually worsen protein excretion.17... 

Calcium channel blockers Monitor for cardiovascular effects similarly to (3 -blockers. If dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers are employed, assess for dependent edema. Consider withdrawal if GERD or constipation responds poorly to therapy. 

Hypertension Calcium channel blockers ACE inhibitors ARBs Diltiazem, verapamil inhibit CSA/TAC metabolism Dihydropyridines may potentiate CSA-gingival hyperplasia May exacerbate hyperkalemia monitor K+, SCr to assess for renal allograft vascular disease may be useful in posttranplant erythrocytosis (hematocrit greater than 55%)... 

ACE inhibitors and angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARB) have definite benefits in patients with nephropathy and are believed to have renoprotective effects in most patients. Due to their ability to cause an initial bump in serum creatinine, these agents should be used cautiously when employed in combination with the calcineurin inhibitors. The dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers have demonstrated an ability to reverse the nephrotoxicity associated with cyclosporine and tacrolimus (Table 52-8). In general, antihypertensive therapy should focus on agents with proven benefit in reducing the progression of cardiovascular disease and should be chosen on a patient-specific basis.55 See Chapter 2 for further recommendations for treating HTN. 

Kostic, D. et al. (1995). Intestinal absorption, serum clearance, and interactions between lutein and beta-carotene when administered to human adults in separate or combined oral doses. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 62 604—610. Kuo, S. M. et al. (2001). Dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers inhibit ascorbic acid accumulation in human intestinal Caco-2 cells. Life Sci. 68(15) 1751-1760. 

Most patients with ESRD require three or more antihypertensive agents to achieve target blood pressure. As with less advanced CKD (see Fig. 76-4), ACEIs, ARBs, and dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers are the preferred agents. 

Calcium carbonate (hmestone) slurry, in flue gas scrubbing, 11 717 Calcium channel blockers, 5 116-135 arylalkylamines and benzothiazepins, 5 116-117, 118-120t 1,4-dihydropyridines, 5 124-129t Calcium channels, 5 85-86... 

Nifedipine is a calcium-channel blocker of the dihydropyridine group. It relaxes smooth muscle and dilates both coronary and peripheral arteries by interfering with the inward displacement of calcium-channel ions through the active cell membrane. Unlike verapamil, nifedipine can be given with beta-blockers. Long-acting formulations of nifedipine are preferred in the long-term treatment of hypertension. 

Adalat is a proprietary preparation of nifedipine (a dihydropyridine calcium-channel blocker). 

Flagyl (metronidazole, antimicrobial agent) tablets are available in 200 mg and 400 mg strengths. Istin (amlodipine, a dihydropyridine calcium-channel blocker) is available as 5 mg and 10 mg tablets. Risperdal (risperidone. 

Amlodipine and nifedipine are dihydropyridine calcium-channel blockers. Amlodipine differs from nifedipine in that it has a longer duration of action and can therefore be given once daily, unlike nifedipine. Both are indicated in hypertension and angina and tend to cause ankle oedema that does not respond to diuretic therapy. Neither amlodipine nor nifedipine are available as spray formulations. 

Calcium-channel blockers interfere with the inward movement of calcium ions through the cell membrane channels. This results in reduction of myocardial contractility (hence negative inotropes), reduction of cardiac output and arteriolar vasodilatation. The dihydropyridine group, such as nifedipine and amlodipine, which may be used in the management of hypertension, are very effective as arterial vasodilators, whereas diltiazem and verapamil are very effective in reducing atrioventricular conduction. 

This strategy of modification of a neutral molecule by addition of basic functionality was employed in the discovery of the dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker, amlodipine. The long plasma elimination half-life (35 h) of amlodipine (Figure 4.8) is due, in large part, to its basicity and resultant high volume of distribution [13]. 

Fig. 4.8 Structures of the dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers, nifedipine (neutral) and amlodipine (basic).

Chemically, calcium channel blockers are synthesized up of a fairly diverse group of compounds, which testifies of the diverse receptive regions both on the cell membrane surface as well as within the cell. Verapamil, which can be viewed as a benzylcyanide derivative, is one of the oldest and most actively used compounds of this class up to the present day. Diltiazem is a thiodiazepine, while nifedipin and nicardipine are derivatives of dihydropyridine. 

Hypersensitivity to the drug hypersensitivity to dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers (nisodipine) sick sinus syndrome or second- or third-degree AV block... 

Drugs that may be affected by indinavir include antiarrhythmics, clarithromycin, dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, immunosuppressant agents, phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors, pimozide, saquinavir, trazodone, cisapride, amiodarone, benzodiazepines, ergot alkaloids, fentanyl, rifamycins, ritonavir. 

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