Edema and CCBs

Lower limb edema is one of the most common side effects of calcium channel blockers (CCBs), especially the dihydropyridine group like Amlodipine. CCBs dilate arterioles but not venules. This imbalance raises capillary hydrostatic pressure, pushing fluid into surrounding tissues. As a result, fluid accumulates in the interstitial space, most noticeably in the ankles and lower legs. Risk factors include older age, female sex and warm weather.

Summarized from Microsoft Copilot (GPT-5)