DILTIAZEM

(dil TYE a zem) Brand: Cardizem, Cardizem CD, Cardizem LA, Cartia XT, Dilacor XR, Dilt-CD, Dilt-XR, Diltia XT, Diltiazem Hydrochloride CD, Diltiazem Hydrochloride SR, Diltiazem Hydrochloride XR, Diltiazem Hydrochloride XT, Diltzac, Taztia XT, Tiazac

What is the most significant information I must know about diltiazem?

• Do not use this medicine if you have determined heart conditions such as "sick sinus syndrome" or "AV block" (unless you have a pacemaker), low blood pressure, or if you have recently had a heart attack.

• Till taking diltiazem, speak your doctor if you have kidney malady, liver malady, or congestive heart failure.

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

• Do not stop taking this medicine without first talking to your doctor. If you stop taking diltiazem suddenly, your condition may become worse.

• Diltiazem may be only part of a complete program of treatment that also includes diet, exercice, and another medications. Follow your diet, medicine, and exercice routines very closely.

• If you are being treated for tall blood pressure, hold using this medicine even if you feel well. Tall blood pressure often has no symptoms.

What is diltiazem?

• Diltiazem is in a group of drugs called calcium channel blockers. 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 determined heart rhythm disorders.

• Diltiazem may also be used for purposes not listed in this medicine guide.

What must I discuss with my healthcare provider till taking diltiazem?

• You must not use this medicine if you are allergic to diltiazem, or if you have:

· determined heart conditions, especially "sick sinus syndrome" or "AV block" (unless you have a pacemaker);

· low blood pressure; or

· if you have recently had a heart attack.

• To create certain you can safely take diltiazem, speak your doctor if you have any of these another conditions:

· kidney disease;

· liver malady;

· congestive heart failure; or

· if you are also taking clonidine (Catapres).

• FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether diltiazem will harm an unborn child. Speak your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication.

• Diltiazem can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing child. Do not use this medicine without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How must I take diltiazem?

• Take exactly as predesigned by your doctor. Do not take in larger or less amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

• Your doctor may occasionally change your doze to create certain you get the excellent results.

• Take diltiazem with a full glass of water.

• Do not crush, chew, interrupt, or open an extended-release tablet or capsule. Swallow it intact. Breaking or opening the pill may reason too many of the drug to be released at one time.

• If you have trouble swallowing a diltiazem capsule whole, ask your doctor or pharmacist if it is safety for you to open the capsule and sprinkle the medication into a spoonful of applesauce to create swallowing easier. Swallow this mixture right away without chewing. Do not save the mixture for later use. Discard the empty capsule.

• Use diltiazem regularly to get the most benefit. Get your prescription refilled till you run out of medication completely.

• Do not stop taking this medicine without first talking to your doctor. If you stop taking diltiazem suddenly, your condition may become worse.

• If you are being treated for tall blood pressure, hold using this medicine even if you feel well. Tall blood pressure often has no symptoms. You may need to use blood pressure medicine for the rest of your life.

• Diltiazem may be only part of a complete program of treatment that also includes diet, exercice, and another medications. Follow your diet, medicine, and exercice routines very closely.

• To be certain this medication is helping your condition and is not causing deleterious effects, your blood pressure will need to be checked often. Your liver and kidney function may also need to be tested. Visit your doctor regularly.

• Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

• Take the missed doze as soon as you remember. Skip the missed doze if it is nearly time for your following scheduled doze. Do not take extra medication to create up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

• Search abnormal 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, feeling light-headed, or fainting.

What must 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.

• Avoid drinking alcohol while taking diltiazem.

• Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with diltiazem and lead to potentially dangerous effects. Discuss the use of grapefruit commodity with your doctor.

• Avoid exposure to sunlight or tanning beds. Diltiazem can create you sunburn more easily. Wear protective clothing and use sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) when you are outdoors.

What are the possible side effects of diltiazem?

• Get abnormal medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your person, lips, tongue, or throat.

• Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

· a red, blistering skin rash;

· swelling in your hands or feet;

· trouble breathing;

· slow heartbeats;

· dizziness, fainting, quick or pounding heartbeat;

· upper stomach pain, itching, 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 person or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the person or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling.

• Smaller serious side effects may include:

· headache;

· dizziness, weakness, weary feeling;

· upset stomach, nausea;

· sore throat, cough, stuffy nose; or

· flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling).

• This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may message side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What another drugs will affect diltiazem?

• Speak your doctor about all another medicines you use, especially:

· amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone);

· buspirone (BuSpar);

· carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Tegretol);

· cimetidine (Tagamet);

· cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune);

· digoxin (digitalis, Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps);

· quinidine (Quin-G);

· rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, Rifater);

· an antibiotic such as clarithromycin (Biaxin), dalfopristin/quinupristin (Synercid), erythromycin (E.E.S., EryPed, Ery-Tab, Erythrocin, Pediazole), or telithromycin (Ketek);

· antifungal medicine such as itraconazole (Sporanox), ketoconazole (Extina, Ketozole, Nizoral, Xolegal), miconazole (Oravig), or voriconazole (Vfend);

· a beta-blocker such as atenolol (Tenormin, Tenoretic), carvedilol (Coreg), labetalol (Normodyne, Trandate), metoprolol (Dutoprol, Lopressor, Toprol), nadolol (Corgard), propranolol (Inderal, InnoPran), sotalol (Betapace), and others;

· cholesterol medications such as atorvastatin (Lipitor, Caduet), fluvastatin (Lescol), lovastatin (Mevacor, Altoprev, Advicor), pravastatin (Pravachol), rosuvastatin (Crestor), or simvastatin (Zocor, Simcor, Vytorin);

· HIV/AIDS medication such as atazanavir (Reyataz), delavirdine (Rescriptor), fosamprenavir (Lexiva), indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), or ritonavir (Norvir, Kaletra); or

· a sedative such as midazolam (Versed) or triazolam (Halcion).

• This list is not complete and another drugs may interact with diltiazem. Speak your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal commodity. Do not start a new medicine without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about diltiazem.

Remember, hold this and all another medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medicine only for the indication prescribed.

Disclaim: Each 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 external 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 must be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safety, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the help 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.