Calcium Channel Blocking Agents : Before Using

Calcium Channel Blocking Agents - Systemic

Calcium Channel Blocking Agents *** Before Using *** How to Use *** Fore Safe Use *** Side Effects *** Additional Information

Before Using

In deciding to using a medication, the chance of taking the drug must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you will make. For the calcium channel blocking agents, the following must be considered

Allergic reaction

Tell your family doctor if you have any unusual or allergy to amlodipine, bepridil, diltiazem, felodipine, flunarizine, isradipine, nicardipine, nifedipine, nimodipine, or verapamil. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy care

Calcium channel blocking agents have not been studied in pregnant women. However, studies in pets have shown that large doses of calcium channel blocking agents cause birth defects, prolonged pregnancy, poor bone development in the offspring and stillbirth.

Breast-feeding problem

Although bepridil, diltiazem, nifedipine, verapamil, and possibly other calcium channel blocking agents, pass into breast milk, they have not been reported to cause problems in nursing babies.

Use for Children

Although there is no special info comparing use of this drug in child with use in other age groups, it is not expected to cause various side effects or problems in child than it does in adults.

Elderly care

Elderly people may be especially sensitive to the effects of calcium channel blocking agents. This may increase the risk of side effects during treat. A lower starting dose may be required.

Drug interactions

Although certain medication must not be using together at all, in other cases two various medication may be using together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your family doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When taking calcium channel blocking agents it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

Acetazolamide - Diamox
Amphotericin B by injection - Fungizone
Corticosteroids - cortisone-like drug
Dichlorphenamide - Daranide
Diuretics - water pills
Methazolamide - Naptazane These medication can cause hypokalemia - low levels of potassium in the body, which can increase the unwanted effects of bepridil

Beta-adrenergic blocking agents - acebutolol " Sectral ", atenolol " Tenormin ", betaxolol " Kerlone ", carteolol " Cartrol ", labetalol " Normodyne ", metoprolol " Lopressor ", nadolol " Corgard ", oxprenolol " Trasicor ", penbutolol " Levatol ", pindolol " Visken ", propranolol " Inderal ", sotalol " Sotacor ", timolol " Blocadren " Effects of both may be increased. In addition, unwanted effects may occur if a calcium channel blocking agent or a beta-blocking agent is stopped suddenly after both have been using together

Carbamazepine - Tegretol
Cyclosporine - Sandimmune
Procainamide - Pronestyl
Quinidine - Quinidex Effects of these medication may be increased if they are using with some calcium channel blocking agents

Digitalis glycosides - heart drug Effects of these medication may be increased if they are using with some calcium channel blocking agents

Disopyramide - Norpace Effects of some calcium channel blocking agents on the heart may be increased

Grapefruit juice Effects of felodipine may be increased. No effects on amlodipine.

Always tell your health care professional if you are using any of the following medication in the eye:

Betaxolol - Betoptic
Levobunolol - Betagan
Metipranolol - OptiPranolol
Timolol - Timoptic Effects on the heart and blood pressure may be increased

Other Information for using

The presence of other medical problems may effect the use of the calcium channel blocking agents. Make sure you tell your family doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

Congestive heart failure Calcium channel blocking agents may make this condition worse
Heart rhythm problems - history of Bepridil can cause serious heart rhythm problems

Kidney disease
Liver disease Effects of the calcium channel blocking agent may be increased

Mental depression - history of Flunarizine may cause mental depression

Parkinson's disease or similar problems Flunarizine can cause parkinsonian-like effects

Other heart or blood vessel disorders Calcium channel blocking agents may make some heart conditions worse