Dalby Chemist
Located in Dalby, Queensland, we are dedicated to providing professional and friendly service to meet all your healthcare needs.
This article was originally published in the Town & Country magazine for Western Downs and Darling Downs. It is written by Mark Watson, Pharmacists and Owner of Dalby Chemist.
Over the past few weeks, I have written articles about blood pressure and the medications used to treat hypertension. So far, I have covered Betablockers and ACE inhibitors. Today I will cover Calcium Channel Blockers, (CCBs).
CCBs are useful because, depending on the particular molecule used, they treat BP, angina, arrhythmias, and Raynaud’s Phenomenon.
Our heart and blood vessels are somewhat controlled by ions entering cells. One of these ions is Calcium (Ca). Calcium is a positively charged molecule, so when it enters a cell through a channel it causes a change in polarity. This change causes the cell to contract; hence a blood vessel gets smaller, and BP increases.
When we block the channel that Ca travels into the cell, the blood vessel relaxes, therefore a reduction in BP, also more blood and oxygen are carried around the arteries, and we can get improvement in angina symptoms as well as reduced BP.
Some CCBs will also control arrythmias.
The CCBs that we use to control BP usually have an ending in their name like: -dipine such as Amlodipine and Lercanidipine.
Mose people tolerate CCBs well but the adverse reactions most common with them include dizziness, swelling ankles, flushing skin and headache.
So, until next time keep well, come in and have a chat, your good health could depend on it.
Located in Dalby, Queensland, we are dedicated to providing professional and friendly service to meet all your healthcare needs.
