Some extracardiac effects of diltiazem and other calcium entry blockers.
Calcium entry blockers have a well documented relaxing effect of smooth muscle, vascular as well as non-vascular. Mainly as a consequence of this action, the drugs have been used for treatment of several non-cardiac disorders where hyperactivity of smooth muscle is considered to have an important role in the pathogenesis. In this short review some of these extracardiac effects of calcium entry blockers are discussed and also their clinical application.
D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy; D001552:Benzazepines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004110:Diltiazem / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004935:Esophageal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000188:drug therapy; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D011928:Raynaud Disease / Q000188:drug therapy; D001745:Urinary Bladder Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D014590:Uterine Contraction / Q000187:drug effects
D001552:Benzazepines; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D004110:Diltiazem