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Updated: Aug 13, 2026

Cell-based Calcium Assay for Medium to High Throughput Screening of TRP Channel Functions using FlexStation 3
Published on: August 17, 2011
Pharmacotherapy review: calcium channel blockers
1Section of Clinical Pharmacology and Hypertension, Division of Nephrology, Medical College of Virginia of Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA. dsica@hsc.vcu.edu
Abstract:
As a drug class, calcium channel blockers encompass a heterogeneous group of compounds with distinctive structures and pharmacologic characteristics. These agents are widely used in the treatment of hypertension, chronic coronary ischemia, and/or supraventricular arrhythmias. Much of the early debate alluding to increased cardiovascular risk associated with calcium channel blocker use has been silenced by an array of outcomes trials that show these drugs to be both safe and effective in reducing hard cardiovascular end points. The most common side effects associated with calcium channel blockers are vasodilatory in nature and include a non-volume-dependent form of peripheral edema, flushing, and headache. Despite the sometimes discomforting side effects seen with calcium channel blocker therapy, their robust blood pressure-lowering effect makes them an important component of most multidrug regimens used for blood pressure control.
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