AANP Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practiotioner Practice

Calcium channel blockers are a class of medications frequently used to treat hypertension and other cardiovascular conditions. One of the well-documented side effects of these medications is edema, particularly peripheral edema, which is the swelling of the lower extremities due to fluid retention. This occurs because calcium channel blockers relax the smooth muscle in blood vessels, leading to vasodilation. While this is beneficial for lowering blood pressure, it can also result in increased capillary permeability and fluid leakage into surrounding tissues, causing swelling. Edema can be particularly pronounced in the ankles and feet. Although other side effects can occur with calcium channel blockers, such as dizziness, they are less specific to this class of drugs compared to edema. Dizziness may arise due to hypotension from the vasodilatory effects, but it does not occur in every patient. Hypercalcemia is not a typical side effect of calcium channel blockers; rather, these medications aim to modulate calcium entry into cells. Understanding the common side effects of medications, such as edema associated specifically with calcium channel blockers, is essential in managing patient care and counseling patients about what to expect during treatment.