Re-examining the clinical safety and roles of calcium antagonists in cardiovascular medicine.
Despite recent analyses questioning the safety of calcium antagonists, evidence and clinical practice strongly support a major role for these drugs in the management of many cardiovascular diseases such as arrhythmia, vascular spasm, hypertension, diastolic dysfunction, stable angina, and myocardial infarction. These agents are a heterogeneous class of drugs with each formulation possessing unique properties and clinical applications. This article presents a review of the available literature and discusses the recommended use of various calcium antagonists in the treatment of diseases of the heart and vascular system.
Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA.
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D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000188:drug therapy; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004110:Diltiazem / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy; D018754:Ventricular Dysfunction / Q000188:drug therapy; D014700:Verapamil / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D014700:Verapamil; D004110:Diltiazem