Dihydropyridine is a molecule based upon
pyridine, and the parent of a class of
molecules that have been semi-
saturated with two
substituents replacing one
double bond. They are particularly well known in
pharmacology as
L-type calcium channel blockers, used in the treatment of hypertension. Compared with certain other
L-type calcium channel blockers (for example those of the
phenylalkylamine class such as
verapamil) which have significant action at the heart, they are relatively vascular selective in their mechanism of action in lowering blood pressure.