Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) are a class of medications used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). They work by blocking some of the calcium that enters the heart and arteries.

You may have heard of calcium as a key nutrient for your bones, but it also plays a very important role in heart function. Calcium moves into the cells of your heart every time it beats, allowing a strong and even squeeze of the muscles to happen.

If you have high blood pressure, the force of blood flowing through your arteries is higher than normal. Taking CCBs works by reducing the flow of calcium into your heart and arteries, which helps to:

  • 降低血压
  • open narrow blood vessels
  • reduce heart rate

CCB有时也称为钙拮抗剂。他们和ACE抑制剂in reducing blood pressure.

CCB有多种形式可用，您可以通过嘴巴采取的多种形式，范围从溶解片剂到扩展释放胶囊。剂量将取决于您的整体健康和病史。

Your doctor may prescribe CCBs if you have:

  • high blood pressure
  • irregular heartbeats called arrhythmias
  • chest pain related to angina

其他形式的药物也可以治疗高血压。您的医生可以同时开出CCB和另一种高血压药物。

这2017 guidelines从美国心脏病学院提出，在治疗高血压时首先考虑以下药物：

  • ACE抑制剂
  • diuretics
  • 血管紧张素受体阻滞剂（ARB）
  • CCB

某些人可能会特别受益于CCB与其他药物结合使用，包括：

  • 老年人
  • 黑人
  • 患有肾脏疾病或糖尿病的人

Side effects of CCBs include:

  • dizziness
  • headache
  • constipation
  • 胃灼热
  • 恶心
  • a skin rash or flushing, which is redness of the face
  • 下肢肿胀
  • fatigue

某些人也可以降低某些人的血糖水平。

Tell your doctor about any side effects you’re experiencing. They may adjust your dosage or recommend that you switch to another medication if the side effects don’t go away, are uncomfortable, or pose a threat to your health.

Your doctor will take your age into consideration before prescribing a blood pressure-lowering medication. CCBs are often less likely to cause side effects in people over the age of 65.

CCBreduce blood pressure by limiting the amount of calcium that flows into heart muscle and arterial cell walls.

钙颗粒有助于创建产生心脏收缩或打败的电信号。随着钙流入肌肉和动脉的较少，每次节拍的肌肉收缩都不那么强，您的血管就能放松。这导致血压降低。

这three main subclasses of CCB drugs are based on their chemical structure and activity:

  • 二氢吡啶主要在动脉上工作。
  • 苯锡辛work on the heart muscle and arteries.
  • Phenylalkylamines主要在心肌上工作。

二氢吡啶

由于它们在体内的工作方式，二氢吡啶比CCB的其他子类更常用于治疗高血压。这是由于它们降低动脉压和血管耐药性的能力。

Dihydropyridine calcium antagonists usually end in the suffix “-pine” and include:

  • 氨氯地平（Norvasc）
  • Felodipine（Plendil）
  • 伊斯拉地平
  • 尼古丁（卡德尼）
  • 硝苯地平（Adalat CC）
  • nimodipine (Nymalize)
  • 硝基胺

非吡吡啶

苯锡辛and phenylalkylamines fall under a grouping of CCBs called nondihydropyridines. These drugs lower blood pressure but also have other effects on the heart. They’re generally used to treat angina (chest pain) and arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat).

Verapamil (Verelan) is one commonly prescribed phenylalkylamine.

Diltiazem (Cardizem CD) is one example of a benzothiazepine.

Natural calcium channel blockers

镁是充当天然CCB的营养素的一个例子。

Research已经表明，镁水平较高，阻断了体内钙的运动。

In animal studies, magnesium supplementation seemed to be most effective in treating young animals with elevated blood pressure, before they developed hypertension. It also seemed to slow the progression to hypertension.

Magnesium-rich foods include ：

  • 糙米
  • 杏仁
  • peanuts
  • 腰果
  • oat bran
  • shredded wheat cereal
  • soy
  • black beans
  • 香蕉
  • spinach
  • avocado

询问您的医生，在镁中吃得高的食物是否会改变您要服用的CCB的影响。

Medications

CCB可能会与您服用的其他药物相互作用，从而使其有效或增加副作用的可能性。这些包括：

  • treatments for heart conditions, including ACE inhibitors, statins, and antiarrhythmic drugs
  • 抗逆转录病毒疗法
  • antiseizure drugs
  • corticosteroids
  • cyclosporine
  • digitalis
  • diuretics

在患有精神健康状况的患者中，还应避免服用CCB，他们由于药物而经历原位性低血压。

Orthostatic hypotension is a type of low blood pressure that happens when you move from sitting or lying down to standing up. It’s a common side effect of antipsychotic medications.

Food and alcohol

通常建议避免喝酒，尤其是在服用血压药物时饮酒。

You should also avoid taking CCBs and consuming葡萄柚产品，同时包括整个水果和果汁。

Grapefruit products interfere with your body’s normal process for getting rid of the CCBs, which could be potentially dangerous if large amounts of the drug build up in your body.

Wait at least 4 hours after you’ve taken your medication before drinking grapefruit juice or eating grapefruit.

Supplements

某些补充剂可能会增加或降低CCB的有效性。这些包括：

  • 大剂量的钙或维生素D
  • fumitory
  • ginkgo extract
  • 霍索恩
  • khella
  • lily of the valley
  • 夜间蜡笔

CCBare some of the first medications considered for people with high blood pressure, especially older adults.

这y’re generally considered a safe and effective drug. Serious side effects are rare with CCBs.

如果您被开了CCB，请尝试了解可能的副作用和药物相互作用。如果您出现任何症状，请将这些报告给您的医生。请务必向您的医生提供所有药物，维生素和草药补充剂的更新清单。