diltiazem
What is the most important information I should know about diltiazem?You should not use diltiazem if you have very low blood pressure, a serious heart condition such as "sick sinus syndrome" or "AV block" (unless you have a pacemaker), or if you have recently had a heart attack and you have a build-up of fluid in your lungs. What is diltiazem?Diltiazem is a calcium channel blocker. It works by relaxing the muscles of your heart and blood vessels. Diltiazem is used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure), angina (chest pain), and certain heart rhythm disorders. Diltiazem may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide. What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking diltiazem?You should not use diltiazem if you are allergic to it, or if you have: - a serious heart condition such as "sick sinus syndrome" or "AV block" (unless you have a pacemaker);
- very low blood pressure; or
- if you have recently had a heart attack and you have a build-up of fluid in your lungs.
To make sure diltiazem is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have: - kidney disease;
- liver disease;
- congestive heart failure; or
- if you also take digoxin, or a beta blocker (such as atenolol, carvedilol, metoprolol, propranolol, sotalol, and others).
It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Diltiazem can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while using this medicine. How should I take diltiazem?Follow all directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Do not use this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Do not crush, chew, break, or open an extended-release tablet or capsule. Swallow it whole. To make swallowing easier, ask your doctor or pharmacist if you can open a diltiazem capsule and sprinkle the medicine into a spoonful of applesauce. Swallow right away without chewing. Do not save the mixture for later use. Use diltiazem regularly to get the most benefit. Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely. You should not stop using diltiazem suddenly. Stopping suddenly may make your condition worse. If you are being treated for high blood pressure, keep using this medicine even if you feel well. High blood pressure often has no symptoms. You may need to use blood pressure medicine for the rest of your life. Your blood pressure will need to be checked often. You may also need frequent blood tests. Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. What happens if I miss a dose?Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose. What happens if I overdose?Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. An overdose of diltiazem can be fatal. Overdose symptoms may include slow heartbeat, weakness, chest pain, shortness of breath, or fainting. What should I avoid while taking diltiazem?Diltiazem may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert. Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with diltiazem and lead to unwanted side effects. Discuss the use of grapefruit products with your doctor. Avoid drinking alcohol while taking diltiazem. Avoid taking an herbal supplement containing St. John's wort at the same time you are taking diltiazem. What are the possible side effects of diltiazem?Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if you have: - slow heartbeats;
- pounding heartbeats or fluttering in your chest;
- a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
- heart problems --shortness of breath (even with mild exertion), swelling, rapid weight gain;
- liver problems --nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, tired feeling, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or
- severe skin reaction --fever, sore throat, swelling in your face or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the face or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling.
Common side effects may include: - dizziness, weakness;
- headache;
- nausea; or
- rash.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. What other drugs will affect diltiazem?Many drugs can interact with diltiazem, and your doctor may need to change your treatment plan if you use certain other medicines. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide. Tell your doctor about all medicines you use, and those you start or stop using. Give a list of all your medicines to any healthcare provider who treats you. Where can I get more information?Your pharmacist can provide more information about diltiazem.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. Copyright 1996-2017 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 14.01. Revision date: 3/15/2017.
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Last modified on: 8 September 2017
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