title: [Calcium channel blockers in heart failure].
abstract: Patients with heart failure are particularly susceptible to the negative effects of calcium channel blockers because the failing heart demonstrates a defect in the delivery of calcium to the contractile proteins, and an attenuation of the normal sympathetic reflexes. Currently these drugs have no place in the treatment of heart failure caused by systolic dysfunction of the left ventricle. Calcium channel blockers should probably not be described for patients with coronary artery disease and left ventricular dysfunction. When the patient needs additional treatment for angina and beta-blockers or nitrates have not given satisfactory results, it may be appropriate to prescribe amlodipine or felodipine.
authors.affiliation: Medisinsk avdeling, Sentralsjukehuset i Møre og Romsdal, Alesund.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hole
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dickstein
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gundersen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kjekshus
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Myhre
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Rønnevik
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Westheim
mesh_terms: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004095:Dihydropyridines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D004110:Diltiazem / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D014700:Verapamil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D004095:Dihydropyridines; D014700:Verapamil; D004110:Diltiazem