Key Concepts
Drug Overview
Class: Calcium Channel Blockers (CCBs) Dihydropyridines (DHP): Amlodipine (Norvasc), nifedipine, felodipine - Primarily vascular smooth muscle → peripheral vasodilation - Minimal cardiac effects at therapeutic doses Non-Dihydropyridines (non-DHP): - Diltiazem (Cardizem, Tiazac) - Verapamil (Calan, Isoptin) - Cardiac and vascular effects → rate control + vasodilation Key distinction: DHPs lower BP with minimal HR effect; non-DHPs lower BP AND slow HR/AV conduction On the exam, writers often pair stable-sounding options with unstable data—notice the mismatch before you commit. If the stem names a license or role, reread that line; scope errors are classic trap answers even when the clinical topic is familiar. Run a 60-second scan: breathing work and oxygenation, perfusion and end organs, neuro baseline, likely infection sources, and devices that can fail quietly. When two answers feel partly right, pick the one that reduces imminent harm and matches orders for the role you were given. Train yourself to state the primary risk in one short phrase before you read the options so distractors do not rewrite your priority list. On the exam, writers often pair stable-sounding options with...