Final answer:
The suffix -dipine indicates that the drug is a Calcium Channel Blocker, used to treat hypertension and angina by inhibiting calcium ion flow into heart and blood vessel walls.
Step-by-step explanation:
The suffix -dipine indicates that the drug is a type of Calcium Channel Blocker. These drugs are also known as Calcium Antagonists or Calcium Blockers. They function by inhibiting the flow of calcium ions into the heart and blood vessel walls, which leads to relaxation of the vessels, reduced blood pressure, and decreased heart workload. Examples of such medications include Amlodipine, Nifedipine, and Felodipine.
Further understanding the suffix -dipine helps in recognizing that such drugs are used in the treatment of conditions like hypertension (high blood pressure) and angina (chest pain). Specifically, drugs like Amlodipine (Norvasc, Lotrel), Diltiazem (Cardizem, Tiazac), and Nimodipine (Nimotop) are designed to work on the cardiovascular system to provide therapeutic effects. These drugs do not have sympatholytic activity; they do not interfere directly with the sympathetic function or the binding of norepinephrine or epinephrine to adrenergic receptors like sympatholytic drugs do.