Safety of calcium antagonists: dissecting the evidence.
Based on reports about short-acting calcium antagonists, several recent publications have questioned the safety of agents in this class, particularly of nifedipine. However, these articles contain major limitations and pitfalls; one includes several errors. This does not imply that acute-release nifedipine is safe; in fact, it is well known that short-acting nifedipine can cause a precipitous and potentially dangerous fall in arterial pressure. Calcium antagonists differ from each other in clinically significant ways; therefore, conclusions about one type of calcium antagonist are not automatically applicable to others. Preliminary evidence supports the safety and efficacy of long-acting calcium antagonists.
Messerli
F H
FH
Department of Internal Medicine, Ochsner Clinic and Alton Ochsner Medical Foundation, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000139:chemically induced; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012107:Research Design
D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D009543:Nifedipine