Is a Calcium-Channel Blocker a Statin Drug?
According to the Mayo Clinic, calcium-channel blockers are not the most effective medications at lowering blood pressure; your doctor may initially prescribe beta-blockers, angiotensin-converting inhibitors, or diuretics. Channel channel-blockers may be prescribed in tangent with statin medications to treat conditions such as coronary spastic angina.
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Calcium-Channel Blocker Definition
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Calcium-channel blockers are a class of medication that lower blood pressure by blocking calcium from getting into the cells and blood vessels of the heart. Calcium-channel blockers may also be prescribed for their ability to slow the heart rate, thus alleviating symptoms of an irregular heartbeat or angina.
Calcium Channel Blocker Medications
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Calcium-channel blocker medications include Norvasc, Sular, Calan Veralan and Cardizem LA. The respective generic names of these medications are amlodipine, nisoldipine, verapamil and diltiazem.
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Statin Definition
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Statin medications lower your cholesterol by interfering with cholesterol production in the liver. This can help prevent arterial plaque build-ups or blockages. The drugs in this class are also called HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors.
Statin Medications
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Brand name statin medications include Zocor, Crestor, Lipitor and Pravachol. Their generic names are simvastatin, rosuvastatin, atorvastatin and pravastatin, respectively. Note that the generic names all contain the word "statin."
Considerations
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Calcium-channel blockers and statins are two separate classes of medication, however, drugs from both classes may be prescribed in patients suffering from conditions such as coronary spastic angina. The combination has shown an ability to reduce oxidative stress while improving lipid metabolism, thus raising the good type of cholesterol and lowering the bad.
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References
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