Talk to your healthcare provider about what drugs are the best options for you.

They can discuss lowering the dose or the other options to treat your health issues.

When mixed with other drugs or supplements, CCBs can have adverse effects.

A person checks their blood pressure at home, with pill bottles of medication, at kitchen table

FatCamera / Getty Images

This even applies to what you eat.

These drugs may have interactions with certain foods, including grapefruit and magnesium.

Some CCBs, including felodipine and nisoldipine, interact with grapefruit.

After taking your medicine, wait four hours to eat or drink grapefruit.

Talk to your healthcare provider about your magnesium intake.

Your healthcare provider will also tell you not to smoke when taking a CCB.

The interaction of nicotine and tobacco with the drug could result in a potentially dangerous rapid heartbeat.

If you’re taking a combination drug, check for other interactions the drugs may have.

Lifestyle changes are the best way to control high blood pressure.

These include:

These changes can help reduce the need for blood pressure medicine in some people.

These may include:

Summary

Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) are common drugs.

They treat high blood pressure, irregular heartbeats, and some causes of chest pain.

They help prevent heart attacks and strokes.

The most common calcium channel blockers are Verelan, Norvasc, and Dilacor.

Common side effects include fatigue, flushing, swelling, and heartburn.

Tell your healthcare provider about your allergies and other illnesses.

check that to mention previous heart issues in your personal or family history.

And tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or want to get pregnant.

Some CCBs interact with grapefruit juice, magnesium in the diet, and other drugs.

Your healthcare provider will tell you to stop smoking.

you’re free to also make lifestyle changes to bring down high blood pressure.

These medications can help prevent further heart problems, especially dangerous events like heart attacks and strokes.

These are widespread medicines, and theyre generally well tolerated.

If you have side effects, there are many other drugs your doctor can try.

Benzothiazepines (diltiazem) and phenylalkylamines (verapamil) generally have fewer side effects.

If you arent tolerating calcium channel blockers well, consider a different punch in of high blood pressure medication.

These may include diuretics, beta blockers, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers, and vasodilators.

This was used in generic combination tablets with amlodipine by Teva Pharmaceuticals.

The company voluntarily recalled the products in 2018.Amlodipine was not banned in the United States or Canada.

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