Inappropriate prescription of loop diuretics for calcium channel blocker-related peripheral edema: Lessons from physiology.

Jesús Daniel Meléndez-Flores, Mónica Sánchez-Cárdenas

Journal: The American journal of the medical sciences 2025;370(2):199-202

PMID: 40311932

Full Text on Elsevier Science View on PubMed

Abstract

Calcium Channel Blockers (CCB) are commonly used antihypertensive agents, with peripheral edema being a common side effect, reported in up to 70 % of cases. A common pitfall among physicians is that they consider this fluid overload, with some prescribing loop diuretics. Nonetheless, this might lead to several complications, such as electrolyte abnormalities and acute kidney injury, among others. In this article, we describe the main mechanisms of the vasodilatory and diuretic-resistant edema of CCB and suggest several strategies that might aid physicians in reducing this side effect.

Address: Internal Medicine Department, "Dr. José Eleuterio González" University Hospital and School of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, Mexico. Electronic address: [email protected].; Internal Medicine Department, "Dr. José Eleuterio González" University Hospital and School of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, Mexico.

DOI: 10.1016/j.amjms.2025.04.015

Link outs

Free resources

Medical:

https://medlineplus.gov/edema.html

Subscription / membership required

Full Text Sources:

MeSH Terms: Humans, Edema, Calcium Channel Blockers, Sodium Potassium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors, Hypertension