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Learn more about conditions treated with Calcium Channel Blockers.

Calcium Channel Blockers: Summary of Recommendations

Calcium Channel Blockers (CCBs) are used by millions of Americans to treat high blood pressure, angina, and certain heart rhythm abnormalities. The monthly cost for these drugs varies from less than $20 to more than $200. This report gives you information that will help you: (a) determine when you might need a CCB; (b) choose the right CCB and dosage; and (c) save $1,000 to $1,700 a year if you are currently taking or have been prescribed an expensive brand-name CCB.

CCBs are effective medicines that have been shown to lower blood pressure and help prevent and treat the symptoms of angina (chest pain). In addition, two CCBs are effective in controlling certain heart rhythm problems.

CCBs are typically not prescribed as initial or first-line treatment in people with high blood pressure who have no other form of heart disease. Instead, CCBs are often used as a second or third drug to help lower blood pressure when other drugs have failed to bring levels down enough.

CCBs should be considered as initial treatment (usually in combination with other drugs) for people who have high blood pressure plus angina and/or a high risk of stroke. CCBs should not be taken by people with heart failure (often called congestive heart failure).

  This report compares the effectiveness, safety, and cost of eight CCBs. We have chosen the following four as Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs based on the weight of the scientific evidence for their effectiveness, as well as dosing convenience and their cost in treating the following conditions:
  • For high blood pressure – diltiazem CD, diltiazem SR, felodipine SR, nifedipine SR, and verapamil SR
  • For angina – nifedipine SR
  • For heart rhythm abnormalities – diltiazem CD, diltiazem SR, and verapamil SR

All these medicines are available as low-cost or moderately priced generic drugs. All are as effective as other CCBs.

This information was released and last updated in June 2009
Calcium Channel Blockers: Drug Comparison
Best Buy Generic name, dosage strength and form Brand Name1 Drug a Generic (Yes) or Branded Generic (BG)2 Frequency per day3 Average monthly cost4 Best Buy Indication Compare Prices
  Amlodipine 2.5 mg tablet Generic Yes One $32  
  Amlodipine 2.5 mg tablet Norvasc No One $78  
  Amlodipine 5 mg tablet Generic Yes One $30  
  Amlodipine 5 mg tablet Norvasc No One $75  
  Amlodipine 10 mg tablet Generic Yes One $42  
  Amlodipine 10 mg tablet Norvasc No One $102  
  Diltiazem 30 mg tablet Generic Yes Four $16  
  Diltiazem 30 mg tablet Cardizem No Four $152  
  Diltiazem 60 mg tablet Generic Yes Four $32  
  Diltiazem 60 mg tablet Cardizem No Four $228  
  Diltiazem 90 mg tablet Generic Yes Four $32  
  Diltiazem 90 mg tablet Cardizem No Four $296  
  Diltiazem 120 mg tablet Generic Yes Four $52  
  Diltiazem 120 mg tablet Cardizem No Four $388  
Diltiazem CD 120 mg capsule5 Generic Yes One $30 Heart rhythm abnormalities, high blood pressure
  Diltiazem CD 120 mg capsule Dilt-CD BG One $34  
  Diltiazem CD 120 mg capsule Cartia XT BG One $35  
  Diltiazem CD 120 mg capsule Cardizem CD No One $96  
Diltiazem CD 180 mg capsule Generic Yes One $35 Heart rhythm abnormalities, high blood pressure
  Diltiazem CD 180 mg capsule Dilt-CD BG One $41  
  Diltiazem CD 180 mg capsule Cartia XT BG One $41  
  Diltiazem CD 180 mg capsule Cardizem CD No One $115  
Diltiazem CD 240 mg capsule Generic Yes One $46 Heart rhythm abnormalities, high blood pressure
  Diltiazem CD 240 mg capsule Dilt-CD BG One $47  
  Diltiazem CD 240 mg capsule Cartia XT BG One $57  
  Diltiazem CD 240 mg capsule Cardizem CD No One $164  
Diltiazem CD 300 mg capsule Generic Yes One $63 Heart rhythm abnormalities, high blood pressure
  Diltiazem CD 300 mg capsule Dilt-CD BG One $63  
  Diltiazem CD 300 mg capsule Cartia XT BG One $75  
  Diltiazem CD 300 mg capsule Cardizem CD No One $199  
Diltiazem CD 360 mg capsule Generic Yes One $63 Heart rhythm abnormalities, high blood pressure
  Diltiazem CD 360 mg capsule Cardizem CD No One $260  
  Diltiazem SR 120 mg tablet5 Cardizem LA No One $96  
  Diltiazem SR 180 mg tablet Cardizem LA No One $108  
  Diltiazem SR 240 mg tablet Cardizem LA No One $120  
  Diltiazem SR 300 mg tablet Cardizem LA No One $180  
  Diltiazem SR 360 mg tablet Cardizem LA No One $174  
  Diltiazem SR 420 mg tablet Cardizem LA No One $179  
Diltiazem SR 60 mg capsule Generic Yes One $22 Heart rhythm abnormalities, high blood pressure
  Diltizem SR 60 mg capsule Cardizem SR No One Not available  
Diltiazem SR 90 mg capsule Generic Yes One $28 Heart rhythm abnormalities, high blood pressure
Diltiazem SR 120 mg capsule Generic Yes One $31 Heart rhythm abnormalities, high blood pressure
  Diltiazem SR 120 mg capsule Diltzac BG One $34  
  Diltiazem SR 120 mg capsule Dilt-XR Yes One $22  
  Diltiazem SR 120 mg capsule Diltia-XT Yes One $29  
  Diltiazem SR 120 mg capsule Taztia XT BG One $37  
  Diltiazem SR 120 mg capsule Tiazac No One $54  
  Diltiazem SR 120 mg capsule Dilacor XR No One $99  
Diltiazem SR 180 mg capsule Generic Yes One $35 Heart rhythm abnormalities, high blood pressure
  Diltiazem SR 180 mg capsule Diltzac BG One $39  
  Diltiazem SR 180 mg capsule Dilt-XR BG One $24  
  Diltiazem SR 180 mg capsule Diltia-XT BG One $32  
  Diltiazem SR 180 mg capsule Taztia XT BG One $42  
  Diltiazem SR 180 mg capsule Tiazac No One $60  
  Diltiazem SR 180 mg capsule Dilacor XR No One $98  
Diltiazem SR 240 mg capsule Generic Yes One $40 Heart rhythm abnormalities, high blood pressure
  Diltiazem SR 240 mg capsule Diltzac BG One $46  
  Diltiazem SR 240 mg capsule Dilt-XR BG One $27  
  Diltiazem SR 240 mg capsule Ditia-XT BG One $22  
  Diltiazem SR 240 mg capsule Taztia XT BG One $58  
  Diltiazem SR 240 mg capsule Tiazac No One $85  
  Diltiazem SR 240 mg capsule Dilacor XR No One $98  
Diltiazem SR 300 mg capsule Generic Yes One $62 Heart rhythm abnormalities, high blood pressure
  Diltiazem SR 300 mg capsule Diltzac Yes One $59  
  Diltiazem SR 300 mg capsule Taztia XT BG One $79  
  Diltiazem SR 300 mg capsule Tiazac No One $106  
Diltiazem SR 360 mg capsule Generic Yes One $56 Heart rhythm abnormalities, high blood pressure
  Diltiazem SR 360 mg capsule Diltzac Yes One $65  
  Diltiazem SR 360 mg capsule Taztia XT BG One $78  
  Diltiazem SR 360 mg capsule Tiazac No One $105  
Diltiazem SR 420 mg capsule Generic Yes One $84 Heart rhythm abnormalities, high blood pressure
  Diltiazem SR 420 mg capsule Tiazac No One $121  
Felodipine SR 2.5 mg tablet Generic Yes One $41 High blood pressure
  Felodipine SR 2.5 mg tablet Plendil No One $65  
Felodipine SR 5 mg tablet Generic Yes One $41 High blood pressure
  Felodipine SR 5 mg tablet Plendil No One $67  
Felodipine SR 10 mg tablet Generic Yes One $71 High blood pressure
  Felodipine SR 10 mg tablet Plendil No One $104  
  Isradipine 2.5 mg capsule Generic Yes Two $88  
  Isradipine 5 mg capsule Generic Yes Two $122  
  Isradipine 5 mg capsule Dynacirc No Two Not available  
  Isradipine SR 5 mg tablet Dynacirc CR No One $101  
  Isradipine SR 10 mg tablet Dynacirc CR No One $152  
  Nicardipine 20 mg capsule Generic Yes Three $33  
  Nicardipine 30 mg capsule Generic Yes Three $42  
  Nicardipine SR 30 mg capsule Cardene SR No Two $100  
  Nicardipine SR 45 mg capsule Cardene SR No Two $166  
  Nicardipine SR 60 mg capsule Cardene SR No Two $192  
  Nifedipine 10 mg capsule Generic Yes Three $75  
  Nifedipine 10 mg capsule Procardia No Three $135  
  Nifedipine 20 mg capsule Generic Yes Three $120  
  Nifedipine 20 mg capsule Procardia No Three Not available  
  Nifedipine SR 30 mg tablet Adalat CC No One $60  
  Nifedipine SR 30 mg tablet Afeditab CR BG One $32  
Nifedipine SR 30 mg tablet Generic Yes One $38 Angina and high blood pressure
  Nifedipine SR 30 mg tablet Nifediac CC BG One $37  
  Nifedipine SR 30 mg tablet Nifedical XL BG One $44  
  Nifedipine SR 60 mg tablet Adalat CC No One $94  
  Nifedipine SR 60 mg tablet Afeditab CR BG One $56  
Nifedipine SR 60 mg tablet Generic Yes One $59 Angina and high blood pressure
  Nifedipine SR 60 mg tablet Nifediac CC BG One $63  
  Nifedipine SR 60 mg tablet Nifedical XL BG One $76  
  Nifedipine SR 60 mg tablet Procardia XL No One $136  
  Nifedipine SR 90 mg tablet Adalat CC No One $116  
Nifedipine SR 90 mg tablet Generic Yes One $79 Angina and high blood pressure
  Nifedipine SR 90 mg tablet Nifediac CC BG One $84  
  Nifedipine SR 90 mg tablet Procardia XL No One $150  
  Nisoldipine SR 8.5 mg tablet Sular7 No One $84  
  Nisoldipine SR 17.5 mg tablet Sular No One $103  
  Nisoldipine SR 20 mg tablet Generic Yes One $81  
  Nisoldipine SR 25.5 mg tablet Sular No One $117  
  Nisoldipine SR 30 mg tablet Generic Yes One $84  
  Nisoldipine SR 34 mg tablet Sular No One $111  
  Nisoldipine SR 40 mg tablet Generic Yes One $84  
  Verapamil 40 mg tablet Generic Yes Three $30  
  Verapamil 40 mg tablet Calan No Three $81  
  Verapamil 80 mg tablet Generic Yes Three $12  
  Verapamil 80 mg tablet Calan No Three $111  
  Verapamil 120 mg tablet Generic Yes Three $12  
  Verapamil 120 mg tablet Calan No Three $153  
Verapamil SR 120 mg tablet Generic Yes One $25 Heart rhythm abnormalities, high blood pressure
  Verapamil SR 120 mg tablet Calan SR No One $68  
  Verapamil SR 120 mg tablet Isoptin SR No One $65  
  Verapamil SR 120 mg capsule Verelan No One $124  
Verapamil SR 180 mg tablet Generic Yes One $21 Heart rhythm abnormalities, high blood pressure
  Verapamil SR 180 mg tablet Covera-HS No One $74  
  Verapamil SR 180 mg tablet Calan SR No One $89  
  Verapamil SR 180 mg tablet Isoptin SR No One $83  
  Verapamil SR 180 mg capsule Verelan No One $125  
Verapamil SR 240 mg tablet Generic Yes One $21 Heart rhythm abnormalities, high blood pressure
  Verapamil SR 240 mg tablet Isoptin SR No One $95  
  Verapamil SR 240 mg tablet Calan SR No One $98  
  Verapamil SR 240 mg tablet Covera-HS No One $102  
Verapamil SR 100 mg capsule Generic Yes One $69 Heart rhythm abnormalities, high blood pressure
Verapamil SR 100 mg capsule Generic (PM)6 Yes One $64 Heart rhythm abnormalities, high blood pressure
  Verapamil SR 100 mg capsule Verelan PM No One $93  
Verapamil SR 200 mg capsule Generic Yes One $95 Heart rhythm abnormalities, high blood pressure
Verapamil SR 200 mg capsule Generic (PM) Yes One $76 Heart rhythm abnormalities, high blood pressure
  Verapamil Sr 200 mg capsule Verelan PM Yes One $114  
  Verapamil SR 240 mg capsule Verelan No One $137  
Verapamil SR 300 mg capsule Generic Yes One $128 Heart rhythm abnormalities, high blood pressure
Verapamil SR 300 mg capsule Generic (PM) Yes One $122 Heart rhythm abnormalities, high blood pressure
  Verapamil SR 300 mg capsule Verelan PM No One $172  
  Verapamil SR 360 mg capsule Verelan No One $182  
1. "Generic" indicates that this drug is sold as a generic under the generic or chemical name.

2. "Yes" means it is a generic, sold under the chemical name. "BG" means it is a branded generic, which is still a generic copy of an original drug. "No" means it is a brand-name drug not yet available as a generic or a branded generic.

3. Frequency per day reflects usual frequency; some medicines may be used more or less frequently.

4. Prices reflect nationwide cash prices of retail average for February 2009, rounded to the nearest dollar. Information derived by Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs from data provided by Wolters Kluwer Health, Pharmaceutical Audit Suite�. Wolters Kluwer Health is not involved in our analysis or recommendations.

5. "SR" stands for sustained release, "CD" stands for continuous delivery.

6. "PM" is a type of extended-release formulation that is usually taken at night in order to reduce high blood pressure in the morning hours.

7. The manufacturers of Sular have discontinued 10 mg, 20 mg, 30 mg and 40 mg dosages. However, these dosages remain temporarily available in some markets.

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