Diltiazem

Diltiazem can be taken by adults and children aged 12 years and over. Diltiazem is not suitable for some people.

To make sure diltiazem is safe for you, tell your doctor if you:

• have had an allergic reaction to diltiazem or any other medicines in the past
• are trying to get pregnant, are already pregnant or you are breastfeeding
• have liver disease or kidney disease 
• have heart failure or problems with your heart beat
• have a condition that causes food to move slower than usual through your body
• have porphyria (a blood disorder)

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Diltiazem is not usually recommended in pregnancy. If you are trying to get pregnant, or you are already pregnant, talk to your doctor about the benefits and possible harms of taking diltiazem. There may be other medicines that are safer for you.

Diltiazem and breastfeeding

If your doctor or health visitor says your baby is healthy, diltiazem can be used during breastfeeding. Diltiazem passes into breast milk in small amounts, with very few babies getting side effects.

It is important to keep taking diltiazem to keep you well. Breastfeeding will also benefit both you and your baby. If you notice that your baby is not feeding as well as usual, seems unusually sleepy, or if you have any other concerns about your baby, talk to your health visitor or doctor straight away.

Take Diltiazem exactly as your doctor has told you. If you are not sure, check with your doctor or pharmacist. You can take Diltiazem at any time of day but try to make sure it is around the same time or times every day.

Dosage

Your dose of diltiazem depends on why you need the medicine and what kind your doctor has prescribed. It is important to keep taking the same brand of diltiazem once you have started.

Diltiazem tablets or capsules come as standard (immediate release) or slow-release (prolonged release, SR or XL). Your doctor will tell you whether you need to take them once a day or in divided doses throughout the day. Slow-release tablets release diltiazem slower than the immediate-release tablets.

How to take or apply it

You can take diltiazem with or without food. Swallow diltiazem tablets or capsules whole, usually with a glass of water. Do not chew or crush them. If you find tablets or capsules difficult to swallow, speak to a pharmacist or doctor, as there may be other options.

With some of the capsules and tablets you might notice what looks like a whole capsule or tablet in your poo. Do not worry, this is normal. It is just the empty outer shell of the capsule or tablet which your body has not digested.

For anal fissure, you will need to apply a 2cm length of diltiazem cream or ointment to the broken skin on your anus, twice a day, usually for 6 weeks. Follow the instructions on the packaging.

Important

Keep taking diltiazem even if you feel well, as you will still be getting the benefits of the medicine.

Will my dose go up or down?

If the dose you start on does not work well enough (your blood pressure does not lower enough, or your angina is not controlled), then your doctor will gradually increase your dose. Your doctor may also lower your dose if the side effects bother you.

What if I forget to take it?

If you forget to take a dose and you usually take diltiazem:

• once a day – take it as soon as you remember, unless it is less than 12 hours until your next dose. In this case, leave out the missed dose and take your next dose at the usual time.
• twice a day – take it as soon as you remember, unless it is less than 4 hours until your next dose. In this case, leave out the missed dose and take your next dose at the usual time.
• three times a day – leave out that dose and take your next dose at the usual time.

Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten one.

If you forget doses often, it may help to set an alarm to remind you. You could also ask a pharmacist for advice on other ways to help you remember to take your medicine.

What if I take too much?

Urgent advice:Contact for advice if you take too much diltiazem.

Too much diltiazem can make you feel faint, dizzy or sleepy. This is because it can cause your heart to beat irregularly.

If you need to go to hospital, do not drive yourself; get someone else to drive you or call for an ambulance.  Take the diltiazem packet or leaflet inside it, plus any remaining medicine, with you.

Like all medicines, Diltiazem can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them.

Common side effects

These common side effects happen in more than 1 in 100 people. They are usually mild and will not last long.

Talk to a pharmacist or doctor if the side effects bother you or last for more than a few days:

• swollen hands, ankles or feet
• headaches
• feeling dizzy and lightheaded
• feeling tired, weak and generally unwell
• feeling hot (flushing) and redness of the skin
• itching or burning on the skin where you use the cream or ointment
• stomach pain, indigestion and constipation

Serious side effects

Serious side effects after taking diltiazem are rare and happen in less than 1 in 10,000 people.

Stop taking diltiazem and call a doctor straight away if you get:

• severe pain in your stomach
• yellow skin or the whites of your eyes turn yellow – this can be a sign of liver problems

Immediate action required

Call Hospital go to A&E now if:

• you have chest pain that is new or gets worse

This needs to be checked by a doctor as chest pain is a possible sign of a heart attack.

Serious allergic reaction

In rare cases, it is possible to have a serious allergic reaction to diltiazem.

Immediate action required

Call or go to A&E now if:

• you get a skin rash that may include itchy, red, swollen, blistered or peeling skin
• you are wheezing
• you get tightness in the chest or throat
• you have trouble breathing or talking
• your mouth, face, lips, tongue or throat start swelling

You could be having a serious allergic reaction and may need immediate treatment in hospital. These are not all the side effects of diltiazem. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicine packet.

How to cope with side effects

What to do about:

• swollen hands, ankles or feet – raise your legs when you are sitting down. This will get better after a few days as your body gets used to the medicine. If it does not, or it gets worse, speak to your doctor.
• headaches – make sure you rest and drink plenty of fluids. Do not drink too much alcohol. Ask a pharmacist to recommend a painkiller. Paracetamol is safe to take with diltiazem. Headaches should usually go away after the first week of taking diltiazem. Talk to your doctor if they last longer than a week or are severe.
• feeling dizzy and lightheaded – if diltiazem makes you feel dizzy, stop what you are doing and sit or lie down until you feel better. Do not drive, ride a bike or operate tools or machinery until you feel OK.
• feeling tired and weak – make sure you rest and drink plenty of fluids. Do not drink too much alcohol. Try to take diltiazem at a time when you can sit down (or lie down) when the symptoms are at their worst. If you are still having problems after a week, speak to your doctor, as they may need to change you to a different type of medicine. Do not drive or use tools or machinery until you feel OK.
• feeling hot (flushing) and redness of the skin – try cutting down on coffee, tea and alcohol. It might help to keep the room cool and use a fan. You could also spray your face with cool water or sip cold or iced drinks. The flushing should go away after a few days. If it does not go away or it is causing you problems, contact your doctor.
• itching or burning on the skin – try holding something cool on your skin like a damp towel. Take cool baths or showers. If you have itchy skin, use an unperfumed moisturiser regularly. However, do not use moisturiser on an anal fissure as this will irritate it more. Keep your nails clean, short and smooth and try to pat or tap your skin rather than scratching.
• stomach pain – try to rest and relax. It can help to eat and drink slowly and have smaller and more frequent meals. Putting a heat pad or covered hot water bottle on your stomach may also help. If you are in a lot of pain, speak to a doctor or pharmacist. 
• indigestion – it might help to eat smaller and more frequent meals, and to eat and drink slowly. Talk to your doctor if the symptoms get worse.
• constipation – eat more high-fibre foods such as fresh fruit, vegetables and cereals, and drink plenty of water. Try to exercise regularly, for example, by going for a daily walk or run. If this does not help, talk to a pharmacist or doctor about treatments for constipation.

Cautions with other medicines

Some medicines can interfere with the way diltiazem works. Taking diltiazem with other medicines that lower blood pressure can sometimes lower your blood pressure too much. This may make you feel dizzy or faint. If this happens to you, tell your doctor, as your dose may need to be changed.

Tell your doctor if you are taking any of these medicines before starting diltiazem:

• antibiotics such as clarithromycin, erythromycin or rifampicin
• antifungal medicines such as itraconazole or ketoconazole
• medicines to treat HIV or HCV (hepatitis C virus)
• medicines to treat epilepsy, such as carbamazepine or phenytoin 
• medicines to suppress your immune system, such as ciclosporin or tacrolimus
• more than 20mg a day of simvastatin (a medicine used to lower cholesterol)

Taking diltiazem with painkillers

Paracetamol is the best painkiller to take while you are taking diltiazem. If paracetamol does not work, try ibuprofen. Talk to your doctor if you need to take painkillers more than a few times a week.

Mixing diltiazem with herbal remedies or supplements

St John’s wort is a herbal medicine taken for depression. It is thought to interfere with the way diltiazem works. Talk to a pharmacist or doctor if you are thinking about taking St John’s wort.

Important

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including herbal remedies, vitamins or supplements.

How long does it take to work?

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 are 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. This does not mean that the medicine is not working and it is important to keep taking it. Your doctor will check to see how well it is working.

If you are taking diltiazem for angina, you may still get chest pain until it starts working fully. Make sure you have your medicine for treating angina attacks with you all the time and use it if you need to. Talk to your doctor if your chest pain does not get any better after a couple of weeks. If it gets worse, tell your doctor straight away.

If you are using diltiazem cream or ointment, it should start to work on the day you apply it to the tear.

How long will I take it for?

If you are taking diltiazem for high blood pressure or angina, treatment is usually long term, even for the rest of your life. If you are taking it to treat an anal fissure, you will use the cream or ointment to heal the tear on your anus until it is no longer painful to poo. This will mean the tear has healed. This usually takes around 6 weeks.

What will happen if I stop taking it?

Stopping diltiazem may cause your blood pressure to rise and this may increase your risk of a heart attack or stroke. If you stop using the cream before a fissure has fully healed, it may tear again. If you are bothered by side effects, your doctor may be able to prescribe you a different medicine. Talk to your doctor if you want to stop taking diltiazem.

How does it compare with other medicines?

Diltiazem is a calcium channel blocker that works in the same way as other calcium channel blockers to treat high blood pressure and angina.

There are other medicines (as well as diltiazem) that are used to treat these conditions. Your doctor will be able to tell you if you should take different or more medicines to treat your condition.

Can I drink alcohol with it?

Yes, you can drink alcohol with diltiazem. However, it is best to not drink alcohol for a few days after starting diltiazem or if your doctor increases your dose. Wait until you know how the medicine affects you.

Drinking alcohol can increase the blood pressure-lowering effect of diltiazem, which can make you feel dizzy or lightheaded.

Are there foods and drinks I need to avoid?

No, you can eat and drink normally while taking diltiazem.

Will it affect my contraception?

Diltiazem will not affect your contraception. However, some hormonal methods of contraception, such as the combined pill and contraceptive patch, are not usually recommended for women with high blood pressure. Talk to your doctor if you are taking combined hormonal contraceptives.

Will it affect my fertility?

There is no firm evidence to suggest that taking diltiazem will reduce fertility in either men or women. If you are trying for a baby, or having problems getting pregnant while taking diltiazem, then speak to your doctor.

Can I drive or ride a bike?

Diltiazem can make some people feel dizzy. If this happens to you, do not drive a car, ride a bike, or use tools or machinery until you feel better.

Can lifestyle changes help angina?

You can boost the health of your heart by making some key lifestyle changes. These will also help if you have high blood pressure or angina. 

Cut down on salt – eating too much salt is the biggest cause of high blood pressure. The more salt you eat, the higher your blood pressure will be. Aim for no more than 6g of salt a day.

Quit smoking – smoking increases your heart rate and blood pressure. Quitting smoking brings down your blood pressure and relieves heart failure symptoms. Try to avoid second-hand smoke.

Cut down on alcohol – drinking too much alcohol raises blood pressure over time. It makes heart failure worse too. Try to keep to the recommended guidelines of not drinking more than 14 units of alcohol a week on a regular basis. A standard glass of wine (175ml) is 2 units. A pint of lager or beer is usually 2 to 3 units of alcohol.

Exercise regularly – doing regular exercise lowers blood pressure by keeping your heart and blood vessels in good condition. It does not need to be intense; walking every day will help.

Eat well – aim to include plenty of fruit and veg, wholegrains, fat-free or low-fat dairy products and lean proteins in your diet.

Deal with stress – when you are anxious or upset, your heart beats faster, you breathe heavily and your blood pressure often goes up. This can make heart failure worse too. Find ways to reduce stress in your life. To give your heart a rest, try napping or putting your feet up when possible. Spend time with friends and family to be sociable and help avoid stress.

Vaccinations – if you have heart failure, it is recommended that you have the flu jab every year and the pneumococcal every 5 years. Ask your doctor about these vaccines. 

Can lifestyle changes help (and/or help to prevent) anal fissures?

An anal fissure is another name for a tear that happens in your anus. There are many reasons why the skin can tear in your anus. It is usually caused by constipation  or persistent diarrhoea.

You can make some changes to your lifestyle to help make going to the toilet easier. This will allow existing tears to heal, as well as reduce your chances of getting a new tear in the future:

• include plenty of fibre in your diet, such as fruit and vegetables and wholemeal bread, pasta and rice – adults should aim to eat at least 30g of fibre a day
• staying well hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids
• not ignoring the urge to poo – this can cause your poo to dry out and become harder to pass
• exercising regularly– try and do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity a week, or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity a week

You can help soothe the pain by taking simple painkillers, or by soaking your bottom in a warm bath several times a day, particularly after a poo.