Calcium Channel Blockers Side Effects

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Calcium channel blockers are generally used along with beta blockers to lower blood pressure. Like beta blockers, they too can produce some mild to severe side effects.
The side effects that are more commonly observed include headaches, constipation, heartburn, nausea, low blood pressure, tiredness, dizziness, swelling of the legs due to edema or fluid accumulation and drowsiness. Some people can experience swollen or tender and bleeding gums, stomach upset, hot flushes, abdominal pain, gastroesophageal reflux disease and tingling of the hands and feet.
Some of the serious side effects are breathing difficulties like shortness of breath and wheezing, yellowing of the skin and the eyes, irregular and slow heartbeat and allergic reactions like skin rash.
Liver dysfunction can be another major side effect of calcium channel blockers. In addition to these, calcium channel blockers can also interact with some food and medications, thereby raising the risk for possible side effects. Examples are grapefruit, alcohol and certain medications like, carbamazepine, simvastatin, lovastatin, etc.
So, expecting mothers should never take calcium channel blockers before consulting a physician, as these can pass into breast milk. However, till now no major side effects have been observed in breastfed babies. But some studies carried out in animals, have found that calcium channel blockers can have some effect on the unborn child. Such effects may manifest in still birth and birth defects.