Synonyms in a broader sense
Calcium channel blocker English: antagonist of calcium
Definition
Calcium antagonists have an opposite effect to calcium: they prevent calcium from reaching the cells of the heart muscle, the cells of the electrical conduction system (the heart’s electrical conduction system) at the heart and the muscle cells of the blood vessels. This group of drugs is used to treat high blood pressure (arterial hypertension), cardiac dysrhythmia and damage to the coronary arteries (coronary heart disease) caused by arteriosclerosis.
How do the calcium antagonists work?
At the heart muscle, the lack of calcium leads to a reduced power of impact. The pulse or heartbeat becomes slower because the cells of the stimulation-conduction system work more slowly due to the lower amount of calcium. As a result of these effects, the heart is better supplied with oxygen, so that a heart with damaged coronary arteries can be better supplied again as part of coronary heart disease. The walls of the blood vessels increasingly relax, which reduces the resistance in the vessels. The resistance is the pressure that the vessels put on the heart in the cardiovascular system.
What are the side effects of calcium antagonist therapy?
The side effects of phenylalkylamine and benzothiazepine type calcium antagonists are a slowing of the heartbeat and arrhythmia. Constipation may occur during therapy with verapamil. Taking dihydropyridines can cause a rapid pulse or heartbeat and water retention (edema) in the legs.
Due to the vasodilatory effect common to all calcium antagonists, headaches, dizziness and a feeling of warmth with reddening of the face are possible. All three groups of calcium antagonists can have allergic reactions to the active substance. In this case the medication should be discontinued immediately!
When should calcium antagonists not be taken?
Patients who suffered a heart attack less than 6 weeks ago should not receive calcium antagonists. Likewise, patients with a cardiac insufficiency, a disturbance in the cardiac conduction system (cardiac arrhythmia) or acute circulatory disturbances of the heart should not take calcium antagonists. For the above-mentioned diseases as well as during pregnancy, there is a so-called contraindication for this group of drugs, which prohibits the administration of the drug due to serious side effects.
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