Effect of Amlodipine on Morbidity and Mortality in Severe Chronic Heart Failure

Short-term or long-term treatment with calcium-channel blockers may worsen heart failure and increase the risk of death in patients with advanced left ventricular dysfunction. 1 – 4 The possibility of such effects has been noted with most drugs in this class, including many of the newer agents that have become available for clinical use. 2 , 5 , 6 As a result, physicians have been advised to avoid the use of calcium-channel blockers in patients with heart failure, even if these drugs are being considered for the treatment of coexisting angina or hypertension. 7 It is not clear, however, whether all calcium-channel blockers have deleterious effects . . .