Calcium Channel Blockers (CCB): In a Nutshell (Nursing)

00:01 So let’s wrap up the calcium channel blockers.

00:03 The calcium channel blockers prevent calcium ions from crossing the myocardial, that’s the heart cell membranes, in the vascular to the muscle wall so that ends up with dilation and we end up with some of them directly decreasing the heart rate.

00:20 So we use calcium channel blockers to treat hypertension.

00:24 Some are used for long term management of chest pain, cuz we're gonna try to prevent attacks, it isn't what we give in an acute attack first and some are used for cardiac dysrhythmias, remember the ones that are -- really fast.

00:36 Diltiazem and verapamil are potential calcium channel blockers for all three diagnoses.

00:43 So if there's two names you walk out of here with, make sure you remember, diltiazem and verapamil.

00:49 They're pretty universal calcium channel blockers.

00:52 Okay, and well, this isn't the most glamorous point, I wanna make sure you get that down pat that the most common side effect of calcium channel blockers for all ages is constipation, but its particularly problematic for our elderly. So do the right thing.

01:08 Educate your patients, encourage them to what dietary changes they need to make and prevent this uncomfortable common side effect.

01:16 Thank you for watching our video today on calcium channel blockers.