title: Calcium Channel Blockers and the Gastrointestinal Tract.
abstract: Calcium ions play an important role in the normal functioning of the gastrointestinal system. The calcium channel blockers appear to affect all the organs of the gastrointestinal tract and may have therapeutic efficacy on esophageal spasm, irritable bowel syndrome, mesenteric vascular insufficiency, dyskinesis of the Sphincter of Oddi, and insulinoma. Adverse effects are limited predominantly to constipation and some aggravation of ethanol-induced ulcer disease. In addition, the drugs continue to serve as important biologic probes for understanding the normal and abnormal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and the Department of Medicine, St. Luke's--Roosevelt Medical Center/Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Findling
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Frishman
authors.forename: Mohammad T.
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Javed
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Heffer
authors.forename: Lawrence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brandt