Details

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 impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert. 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.

Typical Uses

Diltiazem is used to prevent chest pain (angina). It may help to increase your ability to exercise and decrease how often you may get angina attacks. Diltiazem is called a calcium channel blocker. It works by relaxing blood vessels in the body and heart and lowers the heart rate. Blood can flow more easily and your heart works less hard to pump blood. Diltiazem may also be used to control your heart rate if you have a fast/irregular heartbeat (such as atrial fibrillation). Long-acting forms of diltiazem may be used to treat high blood pressure.

Side Effects

Some of the side effects of diltiazem include 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-coloured 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.

Drug Interactions

• Diltiazem+acebutolol- Using diltiazem and acebutolol together may lead to increased side effects. This can cause fatigue, headache, fainting, swelling of the extremities, weight gain, shortness of breath, chest pain, increased or decreased heartbeat, or irregular heartbeat. If you take both medications together, tell your doctor if you have any of these symptoms.

• Diltiazem+amiodarone- The use of amiodarone with diltiazem may have additive effects when taken together. While this combination may be useful in some situations contact your doctor if you have a reduced heart rate, dizziness, fainting, or headaches. Your blood pressure may need to be checked more frequently.

• Diltiazem+betaxolol- Using diltiazem and betaxolol together may lead to increased side effects. This can cause fatigue, headache, fainting, swelling of the extremities, weight gain, shortness of breath, chest pain, increased or decreased heartbeat, or irregular heartbeat. If you take both medications together, tell your doctor if you have any of these symptoms.

• Diltiazem+carteolol- Using diltiazem and carteolol together may lead to increased side effects. This can cause fatigue, headache, fainting, swelling of the extremities, weight gain, shortness of breath, chest pain, increased or decreased heartbeat, or irregular heartbeat. If you take both medications together, tell your doctor if you have any of these symptoms.

• Diltiazem+flibanserin- Using flibanserin together with diltiazem is not recommended. Combining these medications can significantly increase the blood levels of flibanserin, which m

Mechanism of action

Diltiazem belongs to a class of medication called as calcium channel blockers. It lowers the blood pressure by slowing the heart rate and relaxing the blood vessels so the heart doesn't have to work as hard to pump. It also increases the supply of blood and oxygen to the heart and helps to relieve the chest pain.

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