Class Explorer · Cardiovascular
Calcium channel blockers
Block L-type calcium channels; the split that matters is vascular (dihydropyridines) versus cardiac (non-dihydropyridines).
Members
AmlodipineThe slow, smooth dihydropyridine: once daily, forgiving, everywhere.DiltiazemThe calcium channel blocker that slows the heart as well as opening the arteries.VerapamilThe most cardiac of the calcium channel blockers, and the most constipating.
Also in this class: Nifedipine (DHP, faster) · Felodipine (DHP) · Diltiazem (non-DHP, rate control) · Verapamil (non-DHP, most cardiodepressant). Full pages arrive as the library grows.
Compare the members
Amlodipine
- Type
- Dihydropyridine
- Half-life
- 30-50 h
- Personality
- Slow, smooth, edema
Diltiazem
- Type
- Non-dihydropyridine
- Half-life
- 3 to 5 h (IR)
- Personality
- Rate control and blood pressure together; avoid adding to a beta blocker in HFrEF
Verapamil
- Type
- Non-dihydropyridine
- Half-life
- 3 to 7 h
- Personality
- The most negatively inotropic; constipation is near-universal
Shared across the class
- Indications
- Hypertension · Angina · Rate control (non-DHPs)
- Adverse effects
- Edema, flushing, headache (DHPs) · Bradycardia, AV block, constipation (non-DHPs)
- Contraindications
- Severe hypotension · Non-DHPs: HFrEF, high-grade AV block
- Monitoring
- Blood pressure · Ankle edema (DHPs) · Heart rate and PR interval (non-DHPs)
What makes each agent different
- Dihydropyridines dilate vessels and barely touch the conduction system; verapamil and diltiazem do the reverse.
- Non-DHP + beta blocker is the classic additive-bradycardia error.
- Verapamil is the constipation champion and the strongest negative inotrope.
Read 'CCB' on a chart and immediately ask which half: the two halves have opposite danger lists.
Last reviewed 2026-08-15 · Goodman & Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 14th ed.