Congestive heart failure calcium channel blockers

Overview
Although calcium channel blockers cause vasodilation and may reduce afterload in the setting of heart failure, their overall benefit in heart failure is minimized by the fact that they have a negative inotropic effect and by the reflex activation of the sympathetic nervous system. These agents are therefore not recommended as vasodilators in patients with systolic dysfunction,however they may be useful as antihypertensive agents in patients with diastolic dysfunction.

==ACC/AHA Guidelines- Calcium channel blockers Recommendation == {{cquote|

Class I
1. Drugs known to adversely affect the clinical status of patients with current or prior symptoms of heart failure and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) should be avoided or withdrawn whenever possible (e.g., nonsteroidal anti-inﬂammatory drugs, most antiarrhythmic drugs, and most calcium channel blocking drugs.      (Level of Evidence: B)

Class III
1. Calcium channel blocking drugs are not indicated as routine treatment for heart failure in patients with current or prior symptoms of heart failure and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). (Level of Evidence: A)}}

Vote on and Suggest Revisions to the Current Guidelines

 * The CHF Living Guidelines: Vote on current recommendations and suggest revisions to the guidelines

Guidelines Resources

 * The ACC/AHA 2005 Guideline Update for the Diagnosis and Management of Chronic Heart Failure in the Adult


 * 2009 focused update: ACCF/AHA Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Heart Failure in Adults: a report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines: developed in collaboration with the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation