Which medication is typically used to treat coronary artery spasm?

Nifedipine is a calcium channel blocker that is commonly used to treat coronary artery spasm, also known as variant angina or Prinzmetal's angina. This medication works by relaxing the smooth muscles of the coronary arteries, which helps to reduce the frequency and severity of spasms that can restrict blood flow to the heart. By blocking calcium from entering the vascular smooth muscle cells, nifedipine causes dilation of the coronary arteries, leading to improved blood supply and oxygen delivery to the heart muscle.

The other options, while they may have roles in managing conditions related to cardiovascular health, are not specifically indicated for treating coronary artery spasm. Metoprolol, a beta-blocker, is primarily used for reducing heart rate and myocardial oxygen demand, making it effective for other types of angina, but not directly for spasms. Lisinopril, an ACE inhibitor, is used mainly for hypertension and heart failure, providing vascular benefits through different mechanisms. Carvedilol, which is a non-selective beta-blocker and alpha-1 blocker, addresses heart failure and hypertension but does not target coronary artery spasms directly.