Which of the following is a side effect commonly associated with calcium channel blockers?

Which of the following is a side effect commonly associated with calcium channel blockers?

• A. Increased fall risk
• B. Hyperkalemia
• C. Dry cough
• D. Hair loss

Answer: (B)

Calcium channel blockers work by preventing calcium from entering vascular smooth muscle and cardiac cells, leading to vasodilation and, with some agents, slowed conduction or reduced heart rate. The side effects most commonly tied to this vasodilatory effect are dizziness, lightheadedness, and orthostatic symptoms, which can translate into an increased risk of falls, especially in older patients. Dry cough is typically seen with ACE inhibitors due to bradykinin accumulation, not with calcium channel blockers. Hyperkalemia is more associated with medications that affect the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system, particularly in kidney disease, rather than with calcium channel blockers. Hair loss is not a characteristic adverse effect of calcium channel blockers. So, the side effect among the options that best fits with calcium channel blockers is increased fall risk.

Calcium channel blockers work by preventing calcium from entering vascular smooth muscle and cardiac cells, leading to vasodilation and, with some agents, slowed conduction or reduced heart rate. The side effects most commonly tied to this vasodilatory effect are dizziness, lightheadedness, and orthostatic symptoms, which can translate into an increased risk of falls, especially in older patients.

Dry cough is typically seen with ACE inhibitors due to bradykinin accumulation, not with calcium channel blockers. Hyperkalemia is more associated with medications that affect the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system, particularly in kidney disease, rather than with calcium channel blockers. Hair loss is not a characteristic adverse effect of calcium channel blockers.

So, the side effect among the options that best fits with calcium channel blockers is increased fall risk.