Effects of calcium antagonists on insulin sensitivity and other metabolic parameters.

The antihypertensive efficacy of calcium antagonists appears to be comparable to that of oral diuretics when used as monotherapy. Peripheral vascular dilation appears to be the principal mechanism of the long-term blood pressure-lowering effects of calcium antagonists. The calcium antagonists appear to have beneficial effects with respect to maintenance of renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rate. Metabolic abnormalities associated with diuretic and beta-blocker antihypertensive therapy, such as hypokalemia, hypercalcemia, hyperuricemia, lipid changes, and hyperglycemia, are generally not observed with calcium antagonists.