Calcium Entry or Calcium Channel Blockers

Calcium Entry or Calcium Channel Blockers

The calcium entry blockers or calcium channel block-ers are a group of orally active drugs that have been ap-proved for use in the treatment of vasospastic and ef- fort-induced angina. These compounds block L-type voltage-dependent calcium channels in vascular smooth muscle and the heart, block platelet aggrega-tion, and are particularly effective in the prophylaxis of coronary vasospasm or variant angina. In addition, these compounds are used in the chronic treatment of secondary angina. Two members of this group, vera-pamil (Calan) and diltiazem (Cardiazem), also have been approved for use in the therapy of certain supraventricular tachyarrhythmias . Other potential clinical uses of these compounds in-clude systemic and pulmonary hypertension and Raynaud’s syndrome