Kidney stones are an ancient human malady; one 7,000-year-old Egyptian mummy showed evidence of kidney stones, according to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse. In the early 1970s, less than 4 percent of the population had stone-forming disease, but by the early 1990s, the incidence of kidney stones had increased, with more than 5 percent of the population suffering from this condition. Calcium channel blockers do not cause kidney stones, but they are used as a treatment.
Kidney Stones
Kidney stones are hard masses composed of various combinations of chemicals and minerals that separate from the urine. Under normal conditions, the urine contains factors that inhibit kidney stones, but in some people these inhibiting factors don't work well. The most common kidney stones are combinations of calcium and either phosphate or oxalate. When the stone travels from the kidney to the bladder, it can cause severe pain, nausea, vomiting, chills and fever.
Risk Factors for Kidney Stones
Risk factors for kidney stone development are age, genetic heritage and gender. Men older than 40 are more likely to develop stones and the prevalence of stone increases to the age of 70. In women, the prevalence of kidney stones peaks when women are in their 50s. If you are Caucasian, you are more likely to develop a stone than an African American. Men are more likely to develop kidney stones than women, and once you have had a kidney stone your risk of having another goes up.
Treatments for Kidney Stones
Surgery was once the only treatment for a kidney stone if the patient was unable to pass it on his or her own. Now the treatments include a type of drug called a calcium channel blocker. An article in the 2006 "Reviews in Urology" discusses the use of calcium channel blockers to treat kidney stones in the far end of the ureter -- the tube that carries urine from the kidney to the bladder. Calcium channel blockers increase the rates of stone expulsion, decrease the time it takes to pass a stone and decrease the need for pain medication while the stone is being passed.
Calcium Channel Blockers
Calcium channel blockers are used to help people with heart disease, migraines and high blood pressure. Although they usually work by affecting blood vessels, in the case of kidney stones, calcium channel blockers affect chemical receptors in the walls of the ureter called Alpha-1-adrenergic receptors. According to the 2006 "Reviews in Urology" authors, calcium channel blockers decrease the force of contractions in the ureter, decrease spasms and increase the flow of urine, all actions that would facilitate the passage of a kidney stone.
Considerations and Warnings
Although calcium channel blockers do seem to be effective in helping with kidney stone passage, it is still considered an experimental treatment. MayoClinic.com says calcium channel blockers can interact with grapefruit juice, so you should not take them together. If you have questions or concerns, consult a health care professional.
References
- National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse: Kidney Stones in Adults; October 2007
- "The Journal Of Family Practice"; James J. Stevermer, M.D., et.al.; Drugs Help Pass More Ureteral Stones; April 2008
- MayoClinic.com; Calcium Channel Blockers; December 2010
- "Reviews in Urology"; The Use of Alpha-Blockers for the Treatment of Nephrolithiasis; Michael Lipkin, M.D. and Ojas Shah, M.D.; 2006
