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Calcium Channel Blockers
The expansion and contraction of the heart and smooth muscles of the blood vessels are dependent on the movement of calcium into muscle cells. Calcium channel blockers interfere with the uptake of calcium, which then helps to relax and dilate blood vessels, and reduce resistance. Similarly, calcium channel blockers interfere with the uptake of calcium in the heart muscle, slowing the contraction of the heart and making the contractions less intense. Because of how they work, calcium channel blockers are commonly used to treat hypertension and sometimes used to treat coronary heart disease.
Furthermore, because of slight variations in how various CCBs work in the body, the CCBs can be further categorized into one of two subclasses--the Dihydropyridine (pronounced "die-hi-dro-pie-rih-deen") CCBs and the Non-dihydropyridine CCBs.
The dihydropyridine CCB subclass includes amlodipine, bepridil (no longer available in the U.S.), felodipine, isradipine, nicardipine, nifedipine, and nisoldipine.
The non-dihydropyridine CCB subclass includes verapamil and diltiazem. Drugs in the class
Amlodipine
(
Norvasc
)
Diltiazem Hydrochloride Extended-Release Tablets
(
Cardizem LA Extended-Release Tablets
)
Felodipine Extended-Release Tablets
(
Plendil Extended-Release Tablets
)
Isradipine Capsules
Nicardipine Capsules
(
Nicardipine Hydrochloride Capsules
)
Nicardipine Extended-Release Capsules
(
Cardene SR Sustained-Release Capsules,
Nicardipine Hydrochloride Extended-Release Capsules
)
Nifedipine Extended-Release Tablets
(
Adalat CC Extended-Release Tablets,
Afeditab CR Extended-Release Tablets,
Nifediac CC Extended-Release Tablets,
Nifedical XL Extended-Release Tablets,
Procardia XL Extended-Release Tablets
)
Nisoldipine Extended-Release Tablets
(
Sular Extended-Release Tablets
)
Verapamil Extended-Release Capsules
(
Verapamil Sustained-Release Capsule,
Verelan Sustained-Release Capsule
)
Verapamil Tablets
(
Calan Tablets
)
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