What is Diltiazem?
Diltiazem, sold under the brand name Cardizem, among others, is a calcium channel blocker used to treat high blood pressure, angina, and certain heart arrhythmias. It may also be used for hyperthyroidism if beta-blockers cannot be used. It is given orally or by injection into the veins.
Diltiazem Uses
Diltiazem is used to prevent pain in the chest (angina). It may help to increase your ability to exercise and decrease how often angina attacks may occur. Diltiazem is referred to as a calcium channel blocker. It works by relaxing blood vessels in your body and your heart and lowers your heart rate. Blood can flow more easily, and your heart will work less hard to pump blood.
How to use diltiazem oral?
- Take this medicine by mouth before meals and at bedtime as directed by your doctor, usually 3 to 4 times a day. Swallow the tablets together. Never split, crush or chew your tablets. Doing this might release all drugs at once, increasing the risk of some serious side effects. Follow your doctor's directions on how to take this medicine.
- The dosage is totally based on your medical condition, response to treatment, and other medications that you may be taking. Please be sure to tell your doctor and pharmacist about all the products you are using. Your doctor may gradually increase your dose. Follow your doctor's instructions carefully.
- Use this medicine regularly to make the most of it. To help you remember, use it every day at the same time. This medicine must be taken regularly in order to prevent angina. When it occurs, it should not be used to treat angina. Use other medications (such as nitroglycerin sublingual) to relieve an angina attack as directed by your doctor.
- Tell your doctor if your condition is getting worse (for example, your chest pain worsens or is more frequent).
Diltiazem Side effects
- Body aches or pain
- Congestion
- Cough
- Dryness or soreness of the throat
- Fever
- Hoarseness
- Tender or swollen glands in the neck
- Trouble swallowing
- Voice changes
- Chest pain or discomfort
- Chills
- Diarrhea
- Difficult or labored breathing
- Feeling faint, dizzy, or lightheaded
- Feeling warmth or heat
- Redness of the skin
- A general feeling of discomfort or illness
- Headache
- Joint pain
- Loss of appetite
- Muscle aches and pains
- Nausea
- Shivering
- Slow or irregular heartbeat
- Sweating
- Swelling of the hands, ankles, feet
- Tightness in the chest
- Trouble sleeping
- Unusual tiredness or weakness
- Vomiting
- Blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin
- Itching
- Hive-like swelling on the face
- No heartbeat
- Red or irritated eyes
- Sores
- Ulcers
- White spots in the mouth
- Sneezing
- Stuffy nose
- Acid or sour stomach
- Belching
- Constipation
- Continuing buzzing noise in the ears
- Degenerative disease of the joint
- Difficulty with moving
- Hearing loss
- Heartburn
- Indigestion
- Lack or loss of strength
- Muscle aching or cramping
- Muscle pains or stiffness
- Tenderness around the eyes and cheekbones
- Rash
- Stomach discomfort, upset, or pain
- Swollen joints
Precautions
- Tell your doctor or pharmacist before taking diltiazem if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. This product might have some inactive ingredients that might cause allergic reactions or other problems.
- Tell your doctor or pharmacist about your medical history before using this medicine, in particular: certain types of heart rhythm problems (such as sick sinus/atrioventricular block), liver disease, kidney disease, heart failure.
- You may get dizzy with this drug. Alcohol can make you a little more dizzy. Do not do the driving, use machinery, or do anything that needs alertness until you can do it safely. Limit alcoholic beverages. Please talk to your doctor.
- Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking this medicine.
- Older adults may be more sensitive than others to the side effects of this drug, especially dizziness, constipation, or swelling of the ankles/feet.
Interactions
- Drug interactions may change the way your medications work or increase your risk of more serious effects. Need not start, stop or change the dosage of any medicine without your doctor's recommendation.
- Some of the products that may interact with this drug include digoxin, fingolimod.
- Other medications can possibly affect the removal of diltiazem, which may affect how this medicine works. Examples include cimetidine, St. John's wort, azole antifungals such as ketoconazole, macrolide antibiotics such as erythromycin, rifamycin including rifabutin, and rifampin.
- This medicine might result in slowing down the removal of other drugs from your body, which might affect how they work.
- Some products have ingredients that could increase your heart rate or make your chest pain worse. Tell your pharmacist what products you are using and ask how to use them safely (especially cough and cold products, dietary aids, or NSAIDs such as ibuprofen/naproxen).
Diltiazem vs Digoxin
Diltiazem |
Digoxin |
|---|---|
| Diltiazem is sold under the brand name Cardizem | Digoxin is sold under the brand name Lanoxin |
| Formula: C22H26N2O4S | Formula: C41H64O14 |
| Diltiazem is used to prevent pain in the chest (angina). It may help to increase your ability to exercise and decrease how often angina attacks may occur. | Digoxin is a medication used in the treatment of various heart conditions. |
| Drug class: nondihydropyridine calcium channel blocker | Digoxin belongs to the class of medicines that is called digitalis glycosides. |
