In the 54-year-old male patient’s regimen, which medication is a calcium channel blocker?

In the 54-year-old male patient’s regimen, which medication is a calcium channel blocker?

• A. Cetirizine
• B. Amlodipine
• C. Ramipril
• D. Indapamide

Answer: (B)

Calcium channel blockers work by preventing calcium from entering smooth muscle cells in the vessel walls, which relaxes the vessels and lowers blood pressure. Amlodipine is a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker, so its primary action is on vascular smooth muscle to cause vasodilation. The other drugs listed do not block calcium channels: cetirizine is an antihistamine, ramipril is an ACE inhibitor, and indapamide is a diuretic. Therefore, the medication acting as a calcium channel blocker is amlodipine.

Calcium channel blockers work by preventing calcium from entering smooth muscle cells in the vessel walls, which relaxes the vessels and lowers blood pressure. Amlodipine is a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker, so its primary action is on vascular smooth muscle to cause vasodilation. The other drugs listed do not block calcium channels: cetirizine is an antihistamine, ramipril is an ACE inhibitor, and indapamide is a diuretic. Therefore, the medication acting as a calcium channel blocker is amlodipine.