Calcium antagonists in hypertension

Abstract

The calcium antagonists are effective and safe agents for the treatment of arterial hypertension. They are well tolerated by the patients. In contrast to other types of antihypertensive agents, they cause few metabolic disturbances. They can be combined with diuretics, beta-blockers, and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. They can be safely prescribed to patients with hypertension and concomitant diseases such as diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive lung disease, congestive heart failure, gout, renal failure, peripheral atherosclerotic disease, or Raynaud's phenomenon. Dietary sodium restriction during antihypertensive therapy with calcium antagonists is not required for optimal antihypertensive efficacy. The second generation of calcium antagonists especially the dihydropyridine analogues that have greater potency and vascular selectivity, and a longer duration of action, will optimize the treatment of hypertension. Their antiatherosclerotic, antiplatelet, and "antitrophic" effects in experimental models for atherogenesis and hypertension hold great promise for the future since, so far, there has been no major success in reducing the incidence of coronary death by the treatment of hypertension.