Description
Diltiazem is used to control rapid heartbeats or abnormal heart rhythms. It belongs to a group of drugs called calcium channel blocking agents. Diltiazem affects the movement of calcium into the cells of the heart and blood vessels. As a result, the heart beats slower and the blood vessels relax, thus, increasing the supply of blood and oxygen to the heart while reducing its workload.
This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.
This product is available in the following dosage forms:
- Solution
- Powder for Solution
Before Using
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:
Allergies
Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.
Pediatric
Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of diltiazem in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.
Geriatric
No information is available on the relationship of age to the effects of diltiazem in geriatric patients. However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related kidney or liver problems, which may require an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving diltiazem.
Breastfeeding
Studies in women suggest that this medication poses minimal risk to the infant when used during breastfeeding.
Drug Interactions
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are receiving this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
- Cisapride
- Flibanserin
- Lomitapide
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Abametapir
- Acalabrutinib
- Acebutolol
- Alfentanil
- Alprazolam
- Amiodarone
- Apalutamide
- Apixaban
- Aprepitant
- Armodafinil
- Atazanavir
- Atenolol
- Atorvastatin
- Avacopan
- Avapritinib
- Bedaquiline
- Belzutifan
- Benzhydrocodone
- Betaxolol
- Bisoprolol
- Bosutinib
- Brexpiprazole
- Brigatinib
- Budesonide
- Buprenorphine
- Capivasertib
- Carbamazepine
- Carteolol
- Carvedilol
- Celiprolol
- Cenobamate
- Ceritinib
- Cilostazol
- Clarithromycin
- Clonidine
- Clopidogrel
- Clozapine
- Cobicistat
- Cobimetinib
- Codeine
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Alfuzosin
- Amlodipine
- Buspirone
- Cimetidine
- Dalfopristin
- Digitoxin
- Dutasteride
- Efavirenz
- Enflurane
- Fosphenytoin
- Guggul
- Indinavir
- Lithium
- Methylprednisolone
- Midazolam
- Moricizine
- Phenytoin
- Quinupristin
- Rifapentine
- Sirolimus
- Triazolam
Other Interactions
Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Other Medical Problems
The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
- Atrial fibrillation (type of abnormal heart rhythm) or
- Cardiogenic shock (shock caused by heart attack) or
- Heart block (type of abnormal heart rhythm, can use if have a pacemaker) or
- Severe hypotension (blood pressure too low) or
- Short PR syndrome (type of abnormal heart rhythm) or
- Sick sinus syndrome (type of abnormal heart rhythm, can use if have a pacemaker) or
- Ventricular tachycardia (type of abnormal heart rhythm) or
- Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (type of abnormal heart rhythm)—Should not use in patients with these conditions.
- Kidney disease or
- Liver disease or—Use with caution. The effects of this medicine may be increased because of slower removal from the body.
Proper Use
A nurse or other trained health professional will give you this medicine. This medicine is given through a needle placed into one of your veins.
Precautions
Your doctor will only give you a few doses of this medicine until your condition improves, and then you will be switched to an oral medicine that works the same way. If you have any concerns about this, talk to your doctor.
Side Effects
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
- Blurred vision
- confusion
- dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up from a lying or sitting position suddenly
- sweating
- unusual tiredness or weakness
Less common
- Fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat
Rare
- Anxiety
- chest pain
- decreased urine output
- difficult or labored breathing
- dilated neck veins
- dry mouth
- extreme fatigue
- hyperventilation
- irregular breathing
- irritability
- joint pain, stiffness, or swelling
- lower back, side, or stomach pain
- nervousness
- no heartbeat
- palpitations
- restlessness
- shaking
- shortness of breath
- swelling of feet or lower legs
- tightness in chest
- trouble sleeping
- troubled breathing
- weight gain
- wheezing
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Less common
- Bleeding, blistering, burning, coldness, discoloration of skin, feeling of pressure, hives, infection, inflammation, itching, lumps, numbness, pain, rash, redness, scarring, soreness, stinging, swelling, tenderness, tingling, ulceration, or warmth at the injection site
- feeling of warmth or heat
- flushing or redness of the skin, especially on the face and neck
- headache
Rare
- Change in vision
- constipation
- impaired vision
- itching skin
- lack or loss of strength
- nausea
- vomiting
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