title: Calcium channel blocking drugs for chronic, stable angina.
abstract: The slow channel calcium blocking drugs have been shown to be efficacious in patients with chronic stable angina. They provide effective first alternative therapy to beta-blockers in preventing recurrent episodes of myocardial ischemia in patients who do not tolerate treatment with beta-blocking drugs because of, for example, pulmonary bronchospasm or hypoglycemia. The calcium blocking drugs often provide an additive effect in reducing anginal episodes when combined with beta-blocking agents and sometimes provide effective relief of chronic stable angina when beta-blocking drugs are unsuccessful. Diltiazem, nifedipine and verapamil are important additions to our therapeutic armentarium for the treatment of exercise-induced angina pectoris.
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D009566:Nitrates / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D009566:Nitrates