Calcium channel blockers: the complete list
All 11 calcium channel blockers we track, ranked by our independent FDA recall-safety score. Unlike a plain list, every drug here carries its safety record, what it treats, whether a generic exists, and how long it stays in your body.
| Drug | Safety | Generic? | Treats |
|---|---|---|---|
| amlodipine benzoate Half-life: about 30 to 50 hours | 72/100 | Brand only | Variant Angina Pectoris, Coronary Artery Disease |
| nimodipine | 72/100 | Yes | Subarachnoid Hemorrhage |
| nisoldipine | 72/100 | Brand only | Variant Angina Pectoris, Hypertension |
| verapamil hydrochloride Half-life: about 2.8 to 7.4 hours after a single dose, rising to about 4.5 to 12 hours with repeated dosing | 72/100 | Brand only | Variant Angina Pectoris, Atrial Fibrillation |
| clevidipine | 70/100 | Brand only | Hypertension |
| diltiazem hydrochloride Half-life: about 3 to 4.5 hours | 70/100 | Brand only | Variant Angina Pectoris, Atrial Fibrillation |
| isradipine | 70/100 | Brand only | Variant Angina Pectoris, Hypertension |
| nicardipine hydrochloride | 70/100 | Brand only | Variant Angina Pectoris, Hypertension |
| amlodipine besylate Half-life: about 30 to 50 hours | 68/100 | Brand only | Variant Angina Pectoris, Coronary Artery Disease |
| nifedipine Half-life: about 2 hours from an immediate-release capsule; about 7 hours as measured from the once-daily extended-release tablet | 56/100 | Brand only | Variant Angina Pectoris, Hypertension |
| felodipine | unrated | Brand only | Variant Angina Pectoris, Hypertension |
Ranked by our independent recall-safety score (higher is better), which reflects the FDA recall and enforcement record — not effectiveness. A higher score is not medical advice to switch; which drug is right for you is a prescriber’s decision. 1 are unrated (too little regulatory history to score) and sort last.
Other drug classes: NSAIDs · Statins · Benzodiazepines · Opioids · Beta blockers · SSRIs · SNRIs · ACE inhibitors · ARBs · Proton pump inhibitors · Macrolide antibiotics.
The list is built from the FDA’s Established Pharmacologic Class tags, so it reflects the drugs in this class that we track (one row per active ingredient). Safety scores come from the FDA recall and enforcement record. This is general reference information, not medical advice — do not start, stop or switch a medication based on it; talk to your prescriber or pharmacist.