Which class of antianginal agents is known for causing headaches as a side effect?

Nitrates are the class of antianginal agents known for causing headaches as a common side effect. This occurs because nitrates work by dilating blood vessels, which can lead to increased blood flow and pressure changes in the cerebral circulation, triggering headaches. The vasodilatory effect is beneficial for relieving angina by reducing myocardial oxygen demand and improving blood supply to the heart, but the same mechanism can result in side effects like headaches.

Calcium channel blockers can also cause headaches due to their vasodilatory action, but it is nitrates that are most commonly associated with this particular side effect in clinical practice. Beta-blockers typically do not have headaches as a prominent side effect and are more likely to cause fatigue or bradycardia. Statins, while widely used for cholesterol management, do not typically cause headaches related to their mechanism of action.