Calcium channel blocker toxicity

From WikiMD.com Medical Encyclopedia

Calcium Channel Blocker Toxicity[edit | edit source]

Lipid emulsion therapy is used in the treatment of calcium channel blocker toxicity.

Calcium channel blocker toxicity is a potentially life-threatening condition resulting from an overdose of calcium channel blockers (CCBs), a class of medications commonly used to treat hypertension, angina, and certain cardiac arrhythmias.

Pathophysiology[edit | edit source]

Calcium channel blockers work by inhibiting the influx of calcium ions through voltage-gated calcium channels in the heart and vascular smooth muscle. This action leads to decreased myocardial contractility, reduced heart rate, and vasodilation. In the case of an overdose, these effects are exaggerated, leading to severe hypotension, bradycardia, and potentially cardiogenic shock.

Clinical Presentation[edit | edit source]

Patients with calcium channel blocker toxicity may present with a variety of symptoms, including:

In severe cases, patients may develop cardiac arrest or multi-organ failure.

Diagnosis[edit | edit source]

Diagnosis of calcium channel blocker toxicity is primarily clinical, based on the history of ingestion and presenting symptoms. Laboratory tests may show elevated blood glucose levels and metabolic acidosis. ECG findings may include bradycardia and conduction delays.

Treatment[edit | edit source]

The management of calcium channel blocker toxicity involves several steps:

Initial Stabilization[edit | edit source]

Specific Therapies[edit | edit source]

  • Calcium: Administer intravenous calcium (calcium chloride or calcium gluconate) to counteract the effects of calcium channel blockade.
  • Vasopressors: Use vasopressors such as norepinephrine to maintain blood pressure.
  • High-dose insulin therapy: Administer high-dose insulin and glucose to improve cardiac contractility and peripheral perfusion.
  • Lipid emulsion therapy: Intravenous lipid emulsion can be used as a "lipid sink" to sequester lipophilic drugs, as shown in the image.

Prognosis[edit | edit source]

The prognosis of calcium channel blocker toxicity depends on the amount ingested, the time to treatment, and the specific agent involved. Early recognition and aggressive treatment improve outcomes.

Related Pages[edit | edit source]


Cardiovascular disease A-Z

Most common cardiac diseases

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

A[edit source]

B[edit source]

C[edit source]

D[edit source]

E[edit source]

H[edit source]

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

I[edit source]

K[edit source]

L[edit source]

M[edit source]

N[edit source]

O[edit source]

P[edit source]

R[edit source]

S[edit source]

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

T[edit source]

V[edit source]

W[edit source]

WikiMD
Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index‏‎ - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes

Search WikiMD

Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD

WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

Let Food Be Thy Medicine
Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates

Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates, categories Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.

Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD