What is the difference between beta blocker and calcium blocker

No significant differences in total or cardiovascular mortality between the classes of medications were noted in this meta-analysis. These data support the notion that calcium channel blockers are as safe as, but no more effective than, conventional treatments for hypertension. In diabetic patients, an angiotensin-converting enzyme ACE inhibitor should be used before a calcium channel blocker. Meanwhile, primarily because of high costs, calcium channel blockers should remain fourth-line agents in the treatment of hypertension, after diuretics, beta-blockers, and in diabetic patients particularly, ACE inhibitors.

Skip to main content. Coronavirus News Center. Calcium channel blockers: What to know. Overview Uses Types and examples Side effects and risks Summary Calcium channel blockers are a type of medication that people take to increase the flow of blood and oxygen to the heart. What is a calcium channel blocker? Share on Pinterest A doctor may prescribe calcium channel blockers to treat high blood pressure.

Share on Pinterest ACE inhibitors can help manage a variety of heart conditions. Types and examples. Side effects and risks. Share on Pinterest Fatigue is a possible side effect of calcium channel blockers. Exposure to air pollutants may amplify risk for depression in healthy individuals.

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By Mayo Clinic Staff. Thank you for Subscribing Our Housecall e-newsletter will keep you up-to-date on the latest health information. Please try again. Something went wrong on our side, please try again. Show references Mann JFE. Choice of drug therapy in primary essential hypertension. Accessed June 25, The following are several common comorbidities of AF where one agent may be more ideal over another:.

Both beta blockers and non-dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers exert negative inotropic effects in the acute setting and should therefore be used with caution in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction HFrEF. However, long-term beta blocker use confers significant improvements in survival whereas non-dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers either exert no beneficial effects or may even worsen outcomes [].

For these reasons, the use of non-dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers should generally be avoided in patients with HFrEF despite minimal differences in their acute risks [5]. Although both classes are associated with improvements in major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with a history of myocardial infarction MI , only beta blockers have been associated with reductions in the incidence of ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death [3, 4, 6].

Notably the benefits of beta blockers in the post-MI setting appear to attenuate over time, though they remain a standard of care and should be favored over non-dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers. The latter remain an option in patients with chronic stable angina or those whose symptoms are refractory to maximally-tolerated doses of beta blockers.

Along with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors ACEi , angiotensin II receptor blockers ARB , and thiazide diuretics, calcium channel blockers are recommended as a first-line option for patients with high blood pressure [7].

Their use as initial therapy is especially advocated in black patients although thiazides are a viable alternative , given improvements in long-term cardiovascular events compared to inhibitors of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system [8].

Beta blockers should be reserved for patients whose blood pressure remains uncontrolled despite use of the four preferred drug classes ACEi or ARB, thiazide, or calcium channel blocker given evidence from trials that they are less effective at preventing cardiovascular events [7].

Therefore, in patients with concomitant high blood pressure who may benefit from additional blood pressure lowering, calcium channel blockers may be a more ideal option for rate control.