Diltiazem classification

Note With respect to classification, P-blockers have been assigned to Qass 11, and the Ca +-channel blockers verapamil and diltiazem to Class IV. 

Fig. 6. Influences of different types of antiarrhythmic agents (Vaughan-William s classification) on the shape of cardiac action potentials. First row Class I-agents action potentials of ventricular myocardial cells. Second row (from left to right) Action potential of SA-node cells influence of a )0-hlocker (class II). Action potential of ventricular myocardial cells influence of a class Ill-antiarrhythmic. Action potential of AV nodal cells influence of a class IV-antiarrhythmic (verapamil, diltiazem).

The class IV-antiarrhythmics are the calcium antagonists, but remain limited to verapamil and possibly also diltiazem. The dihydropyridines (nifedipine and related compounds) are unsuitable for antiarrhythmic therapy. The antiarrhythmic activity of verapamil and diltiazem is based upon the impairment of AV conduction and heart rate. A few compounds may be considered to act as antiarrhyth-mics, but they are not included in the Vaughan-Williams classification. 

Figure 6.17 The classification of 42 drugs in the (solubility-dose ratio, apparent permeability) plane of the QBCS. The intersection of the dashed lines drawn at the cutoff points form the region of the borderline drugs. Key 1 acetyl salicylic acid 2 atenolol 3 caffeine 4 carbamazepine 5 chlorpheniramine 6 chlorothiazide 7 cimetidine 8 clonidine 9 corticosterone 10 desipramine 11 dexamethasone 12 diazepam 13 digoxin 14 diltiazem 15 disopyramide 16 furosemide 17 gancidovir 18 glycine 19 grizeofulvin 20 hydrochlorothiazide 21 hydrocortisone 22 ibuprofen 23 indomethacine 24 ketoprofen 25 mannitol 26 metoprolol 27 naproxen 28 panadiplon 29 phenytoin 30 piroxicam 31 propanolol 32 quinidine 33 ranitidine 34 salicylic acid 35 saquinavir 36 scopolamine 37 sulfasalazine 38 sulpiride 39 testosterone 40 theophylline 41 verapamil HC1 42 zidovudine.

The precise mechanism and sight of action of most compounds categorized as calcium inhibitory compounds, therefore, remains obscure. Future refinements in experimental models and techniques will undoubtedly will lead to the classification of calcium inhibitory compounds based upon their primary mechanism of action and specific site(s) of action (extracellular vs. intracellar). Because of the uncertainty surrounding the precise mechanisms of action of calcium inhibitory compounds, I will describe their cardiac electrical and mechanical effects illuding when possible to those compounds that are believed to act l) competitively with Ca + for specific calcium channels (e.g., Co +, Mn +, La2+, etc.) 2) at the cardiac cell membrane and possibly by one of several intracellular mechanisms (e.g., verapamil, diltiazem, nifedipine) and 3) intracellularly (e.g., 2-n-propyl and 2-n-butyl MDI). 

---