Diltiazem works by lowering your blood pressure and makes it easier for your heart to pump blood around your body. You
can take diltiazem at any time of day
. Try to make sure it's around the same time or times every day. Common side effects include swollen hands, ankles or feet, headaches and constipation.
What time of day should you take diltiazem?
Adults—At first, 30 milligrams (mg) four
times a day before meals and at bedtime
. Your doctor may increase your dose if needed.
Does diltiazem make you tired?
Diltiazem (Cardizem)
can cause dizziness or fatigue when first started
, or when the dose is increased. Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all of the drugs that you're taking. Diltiazem (Cardizem) may interact with other medications such as statins (for cholesterol) and blood pressure medications.
Should diltiazem be taken on an empty stomach?
Diltiazem can be given in a tablet or capsule form. The tablets and capsules are not interchangeable; do not use both. The tablets should be taken on an empty stomach,
about half to one hour before food
. If necessary, the tablets can be crushed or cut.
What can you not take with diltiazem?
Other medications can affect the removal of diltiazem from your body, which may affect how this medication works. Examples include
cimetidine
, St. John's wort, azole antifungals such as ketoconazole, macrolide antibiotics such as erythromycin, rifamycins including rifabutin and rifampin.
What are the worst side effects of diltiazem?
- fainting,
- slow/irregular/pounding/fast heartbeat,
- swelling of ankles or feet,
- shortness of breath,
- unusual tiredness,
- unexplained or sudden weight gain,
- mental/mood changes (such as depression, agitation), or.
- unusual dreams.
Can you drink coffee with diltiazem?
Avoid drinks
, foods, or diet pills that contain caffeine, such as coffee, tea, cola, and chocolate. Taking a stimulant together with adenosine can increase your risk of unpleasant side effects.
Does diltiazem make you pee a lot?
Moreover, hypotensive doses of diltiazem
acutely increased urinary excretion of sodium
as well as urine volume in saline-loaded SHR and WKY.
How quickly does diltiazem start working?
Diltiazem starts to work on the day you start taking it, but for high blood pressure and angina it
may take a couple of weeks to work fully
. If you're taking diltiazem for high blood pressure, you may not have had any symptoms before. In this case, you may not feel any different when you take it.
Why is diltiazem bad for you?
If it continues for a long time,
the heart and arteries may not function properly
. This can damage the blood vessels of the brain, heart, and kidneys, resulting in a stroke, heart failure, or kidney failure. High blood pressure may also increase the risk of heart attacks.
Is 240 mg of diltiazem a lot?
Your doctor may slowly increase your dosage to 240–540 mg taken
once per day
. Extended-release capsules: The standard starting dosage is 180–240 mg taken by mouth once per day. Your doctor may increase your dosage to 240–480 mg taken once per day.
Can you take vitamin D with diltiazem?
Avoid taking high doses of vitamin D with
this blood pressure drug. High doses of vitamin D can cause hypercalcemia, which might reduce the drug's effectiveness.
Can diltiazem cause weight gain?
Heart failure has gotten worse in some people taking this drug. If you have heart failure, talk with your doctor. Call your doctor right away if you have shortness of breath, a
big weight gain
, or swelling in the arms or legs. A severe skin reaction (Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis) may happen.
Can diltiazem cause irregular heartbeat?
Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: fainting, slow/irregular/pounding/fast heartbeat, swelling ankles/feet, shortness of breath, unusual tiredness, unexplained/sudden weight gain, mental/mood changes (such as depression, agitation), unusual dreams.
What is the drug of choice for atrial fibrillation?
Beta blockers and calcium channel blockers
are the drugs of choice because they provide rapid rate control. 4,7,12 These drugs are effective in reducing the heart rate at rest and during exercise in patients with atrial fibrillation.
