Calcium Channel Blockers

Question 1

Amlodipine (Norvasc)

Answer 1

Calcium Channel Blocker: lowers BP by decreasing calcium and its role in muscle contractions, therefore, creating vasodilation and decreasing HR

Question 2

Can you give calcium channel blockers for heart failure?

Answer 2

No. Calcium channel blockers decrease the strength of contractions and have a negative inotropic effect which means you will reduce the oxygen demand for the heart. This is not good for HF because the heart is already damaged and having difficulty pumping (don’t want weaker contractions)

Question 3

What are calcium channel blockers used to treat?

Answer 3

HTN, angina, dysrhythmias (A-fib)

Question 4

What are the 2 types of calcium channel blockers?

Answer 4

Dihydropyridines & Non-Dihydropyridines

Question 5

Dihydropyridines are used more so for…

Answer 5

HTN & Angina

Question 6

Examples of dihydropyridines and common suffix

Answer 6

“pine” : amlodipine, felodipine, nifedipine

Question 7

Non-Dihydropyridines are used for…

Answer 7

antiarrhythmic, angina, HTN

Question 8

Non-dihydropyridines are ___________ selective

Answer 8

myocardium

Question 9

Dihydropyridines are ______________ selective

Answer 9

vascular

Question 10

Examples of Non-dihydropyridines

Answer 10

Phenylalkylamines (verapamil); benzothiazepines (diltiazem)

Question 11

What do you want to monitor for?

Answer 11

bradycardia, hypotension, teach about orthostatic hypotension, reflex tachycardia (BP drops, so heart increases HR to compensate), EKG to monitor for AV blocks, S & S of heart failure, avoid grapefruit, high fiber diet, good oral hygiene

Question 12

What do you look out for if they are also on digoxin?

Answer 12

digoxin toxicity, the normal level of digoxin will be 0.5-2ng/ml, watch for N&V, vision disturbances, dysthymia’s