Cilnidipine: Next Generation Calcium Channel Blocker.

Hypertension is one of the most common conditions seen in primary care and a major public health problem in India. It can lead to various complications if not detected early and treated appropriately. As per the latest Eighth Joint National Committee (JNC 8) the goal BP in most hypertensive patients age <60 years should be <140/90 mmHg and treatment can be started by selecting drugs from among 4 specific medication classes i.e. angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB), calcium channel blocker (CCB) or diuretics. CCB is one of the first line drugs in the management of hypertension. Among CCB, Cilnidipine is a unique Ca2+ channel blocker as it has inhibitory action on the sympathetic N-type Ca2+ channels along with its effect on L-type Ca2+ channels. This article focuses on the current status of cilnidipine in the management of hypertension and co-morbidities. Cilnidipine by attenuating norepinephrine release from sympathetic nerve endings leads to vasodilatation, decreases heart rate and increases renal blood flow. Cilnidipine has an advantage of causing less reflex tachycardia, less pedal edema and better control of proteinuria in comparison to L-type CCB. By causing dilatation of efferent arteriole, it causes less damage to glomeruli and suppresses podocyte injury. Cilnidipine also increases insulin sensitivity. Therefore, cilnidipine as CCB can be a good choice in hypertensive patients with diabetes, chronic kidney disease and in patients developing pedal edema with other CCB.