Med

[Sue5453]

What do people think of tildiem 60gm when have Af but Af ok at the time been

[ILowe]

Tildiem. Perhaps better known as Diltiazem. A Calcium channel blocker, so be careful if you are taking drugs of the same class, for instance, for blood pressure, such as Amlodipine.

I too am curious about it and currently asking a similar question. Next Tuesday I get to ask it of my cardiologist. Here is what I do know.

It has a short half life, which is excellent for PIP. There is no rebound effect so you can stop and start suddenly. No need for weaning off it, like betablockers. It will tend to reduce your blood pressure, but much less than the similar product, Verapamil. It rarely gives you constipation, unlike Verapamil.

The main problems as far as I can see are:

1. It is more unpredictable than a betablocker, so, until you have the measure of it for you, you will have to be careful, with dose and the timing of doses -- often an inconvenient, strict, every eight hours.

2. ?? Doctors know less about it than betablockers.

3. For some reason it is seen as a 'last resort' drug, after betablockers have been tried.

4. Thanks to Dr Gupta for this one!! He said that Diltiazem and Verapamil are purely rate controllers. Usually when you take a version of PIP you target the rate AND the rhythm. Betablockers counteract some of the negative features of Flecainide, and contribute as an adjunct in a small dose to the anti-arrhythmic effect of Flecainide, as well as controlling the rate.

Having said that, I clipped from a post somewhere, that there is someone using small dose betablocker, and uses Diltiazem as PIP.

[Pikaia]

I'm on tildiem 60mg twice a day. I take that rather than beta blockers as I also have asthma (and beta blockers are apparently not suitable in asthma patients). It works well for me and the only side effects so far are that my legs feel tired a little more often. I've taken it for 5 months and I've missed the odd dose (due to late trains on my evening commute) without any ill effects.

[Sue5453 in reply to Pikaia]

Do you have Af and how old are you please with you only takeing 60mg twice a day what time do you take them and on an empty tummy or with food

[Pikaia in reply to Sue5453]

I have paroxysmal AF and I'm 38 yrs old. I take a pill in the morning between 7-8am and at the same time in the evening. I usually take them on a full tummy but it does vary (and I haven't noticed a difference). Hope that helps!

[Sue5453]

Just had to go to doctors this morning as haven’t had AF for 18 mounts but woke up at 4 this morning with it pains in my chest and carnt breath heart going like mad pulse going from 124 to 24 then 70 but befor I got to Doctors and when I got to doctor pulse was a little fast but was 61 so that was ok and pain in chest had carm down so dident have to go to hospital but he told me to go home and relax today and if it comes back ring 999 then they will do ecg while it’s happening as it would not show anything now as going away dose anyone have Af happen like that if so what do you do when haveing it do that