Calcium channel blockers

Medication class detail with safety cues and nursing action focus.

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Cardiacneeds review

Calcium channel blockers

Examples: diltiazem, verapamil, amlodipine, nicardipine

Mechanism

Relaxes vascular smooth muscle and, for selected agents, slows AV node conduction.

Used for

  • Hypertension
  • Angina
  • SVT or atrial fibrillation rate control

Side effects

  • Hypotension
  • Bradycardia with diltiazem/verapamil
  • Peripheral edema
  • Constipation

Nursing actions

  • Monitor blood pressure, heart rate, and ECG rhythm when used for rate control.
  • Teach slow position changes and report edema.
  • Avoid grapefruit if instructed for selected agents.

Hold / question cues

  • Bradycardia
  • Second or third degree heart block without pacing
  • Symptomatic hypotension

Antidote / reversal

  • No routine class-specific antidote or reversal agent is seeded for this class; hold/question unsafe doses, support ABCs, notify the provider, and use facility or poison-control guidance for toxicity.

NCLEX pearl

  • Diltiazem and verapamil slow the doorway through the AV node.