Calcium Channel Blockers – NCLEX Review (Nursing)

00:00 Calcium channel blockers are another group of antihypertensives.

00:04 Look at all the names that we have, there, you'll see some of them end in P-I-N-E.

00:10 We put a lot of examples here so you can familiarize yourself with those names.

00:14 Now, calcium channel blockers do some cool stuff.

00:16 They're different than the other ones.

00:18 Calcium ions normally enter, and cause vasoconstriction, and an increased heart rate.

00:24 That's what they do.

00:25 So, calcium channel blockers, they block the calcium ions from crossing that myocardial cell membranes, and the vascular smooth muscle.

00:34 So, calcium channel blockers stop the calcium ions from crossing the myocardial cell membranes and the vascular smooth muscle cells.

00:44 This is what helps us treat hypertension.

00:47 So, you end up with, the end result is dilation of the coronary and peripheral arteries, that's what we're looking for to lower blood pressure.

00:56 It's also pretty helpful in the long term treatment of chest pain.

00:59 Now, there's no significant effect on veins.

01:02 We're talking about, right, the arteries.

01:05 So, calcium channel blockers can cause this dilation of coronary and peripheral arteries, that's what we're after.

01:12 By blocking it, blocking it from getting the smooth muscle and the cardiac.

01:16 We're good to go. So, what do they do? They increase the arteries.

01:22 They can slow cardiac impulse formation so some of them will literally slow the heart rate down.

01:27 They decrease afterload because they've dilated those arteries, they prevent them from constricting so the heart doesn't have to work as hard with some of these and here's something super cool that they can do, some of them can control cerebral vasospasms. That is awesome.

01:45 Now, I've written the name right there.

01:46 I'm not saying it, because I wanna make sure you to look at it.

01:49 Underline that one. It's a really unique application and I want you to be aware of that particular calcium channel blocker that can be used to control cerebral vasospasms.

02:00 So, we can use it to treat hypertension; we can use it for antiarrhythmics, these will decrease your heart rate; you can also use it for long-term prevention of angina.

02:10 Remember, that dilation of the coronary arteries, this isn't what I take in an acute angina attack to resolve that, but it's what I should be on on a daily basis to minimize the events or the number of chest pain exacerbations I experience.

02:25 Now, side effects, again, some of these are gonna look really familiar, right? They're significant but they do look familiar.

02:31 The one that's a little different is palpitation and arrhythmia so pay attention to that.

02:36 I wanna be careful giving it to patients who already have some electrical conductive issues in their heart because this really messes with the calcium channels.

02:45 Orthostatic hypotension, you know, honestly, they're taking a blood pressure medication, teach them about orthostatic hypotension.

02:52 Some are more significant than others, but you only have so much real estate in that precious brain of yours.

02:59 Now's your chance. Study as you go, without looking at your notes.

03:04 I want you to try and list multiple medications, what are the categories, or the family categories in treating hypertension.