Abstract
How Safe Are Short Acting Calcium Channel Blockers In Hypertension?
The controversies surrounding the use of short acting calcium channel blockers in hypertension are discussed. Much of the controversy has been generated by the study conducted by Psaty et al. The study concluded that the use of calcium channel blockers was associated with a 58% to 70% increased risk of suffering from myocardial infarction than with diuretics. In another trial named Appropriate Blood Pressure Control in Diabetes (ABCD), which compared nisoldipine and enalapril, was stopped early because of an excess of myocardial infarction (MI) amongst the patients taking calcium channel blockers (CCB). However amlodipine, a long acting CCB has shown to be beneficial in hypertension and has been widely prescribed. Based on the implications and limitations of the data available for the treatment of hypertension, suggestions were given for the selection of a suitable regimen.
