Experience with calcium antagonist drugs in congestive heart failure.
Several clinical studies have demonstrated beneficial hemodynamic effects of calcium antagonist drugs when used as arterial vasodilators in the treatment of certain patients with moderate to severe congestive heart failure. These drugs usually decrease systemic vascular resistance and improve ejection phase indexes of left ventricular function in such patients. However, calcium antagonists have intrinsic negative inotropic effects and other vasodilators such as nitroprusside, hydralazine and captopril appear to be more beneficial when used in the treatment of severe congestive heart failure.
D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014700:Verapamil / Q000627:therapeutic use
D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D014700:Verapamil; D009543:Nifedipine