Which of the following is classified as a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker?

Amlodipine is classified as a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker, which means it primarily acts on the vascular smooth muscle to cause vasodilation. Dihydropyridines are known for their effectiveness in treating hypertension and angina by lowering peripheral resistance and reducing the workload on the heart. They achieve this by inhibiting calcium influx through L-type calcium channels, which results in relaxation of the smooth muscles lining the arteries.

In contrast, Metoprolol is a selective beta-1 adrenergic antagonist that works primarily on the heart, reducing heart rate and contractility, which is an entirely different class of medication. Verapamil, while also a calcium channel blocker, belongs to the non-dihydropyridine group. It affects both the heart and vascular smooth muscle but has a more pronounced effect on cardiac conduction and contractility compared to dihydropyridines. Lisinopril, on the other hand, is an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor and does not directly affect calcium channels at all, focusing instead on the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system to lower blood pressure.

This classification of amlodipine as a dihydropyridine calcium channel