Mibefradil is a drug used to treat high blood pressure, chest pain (angina), and certain heart rhythm disorders. It belongs to a class of drugs known as calcium channel blockers, which work by widening (dilating) the blood vessels, allowing blood to flow more easily and reducing the amount of work the heart has to do. Mibefradil can also help prevent chest pain or reduce the number of times it occurs. It is typically taken twice a day with or without food.
Mibefradil was a medication previously used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) and chronic chest pain due to reduced blood flow to the heart (angina pectoris). It belonged to a class of drugs called calcium channel blockers. These medications work by relaxing blood vessels, allowing blood to flow more easily.
Mibefradil was unlike other calcium channel blockers because it selectively blocked T-type calcium channels. These channels are found in the smooth muscle cells of blood vessels and the heart's conduction system. Blocking these channels caused blood vessels to relax and widen, lowering blood pressure. It also reduced the heart's workload, relieving chest pain.
Mibefradil was withdrawn from the market in 1998 due to the potential for serious interactions with other medications, some of which could be fatal. Safer and more effective medications are now available for treating high blood pressure and angina.