Uses for calcium channel blockers

Doctors prescribe calcium channel blockers to prevent, treat or improve symptoms in a variety of conditions, such as:

• High blood pressure
• Coronary artery disease
• Chest pain (angina)
• Irregular heartbeats (arrhythmia)
• Some circulatory conditions, such as Raynaud's disease

For people of African heritage and older people, calcium channel blockers might be more effective than other blood pressure medications, such as beta blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor blockers.