I have been prescribed diltiazem hydrochloride
90 mg twice a day ! Seems high to me the dose. Anyone else on these ? Hate new meds 😩 been prescribed this as they couldn’t induce an episode today of SVT and PAF so they could do ablation ? But did get chest pain whilst they were trying to induce it?
I take 120mg once a day with no major problems
Just been reading up on looks it more for angina ? New meds scare me as they make me so lethargic and I don’t want to do anything 😢
They made me tired too, but after about a week I was much better. I have been taking 120 mg per day for 1 year and a half. You are correct, besides for AF and lowering blood pressure, they are also used for those with mild heart failure and those that suffer from angina (heart pain),
Ok thanks
Sorry to read about your unusual and obviously frustrating experience. Clearly and not surprisingly, emotions will be running high, but I am sure the medics will explain more once the dust had settled. Try not to commit to anything about future treatment until you feel more comfortable........
I was on that too previously and that seems about right.... Off all meds now since my ablation was a success thus far (nearly 3 years) . Hoping it continues with life style modifications.
Thank you
How are you feeling? where you awake through the ablation?
Yes was a wake but sedated got some chest pain but nothing else . Typical really no SVT nothing ! 😩 is frustrating not attempting it again now. I’m ok , just tired from all the drugs x
Very frustrating it must be that they couldn't get it going i had a similar experience but eventually got it going after 2.5 hrs, did they say they will try again in the coming months?
No not trying again , they only tried for 30 mins as had other ablations booked in back to back , and to be honest I don’t want to. So bizarre yesterday , I had flutters on and off all day ! Today they can’t induce it ? May be mine is all stress and hormonal related ? Bad timing I guess 😢
I have been on 240mg for about 6months with no problems I couldn't cope with Bisoporol. but, as is often said on here we are all different. After my ablation 3 weeks ago they have kept me on it + Flecainade. I felt fine with no side effects but, it didn't stop af getting worse hence the ablation etc
Hi--I take 60mg 3-4 times daily-I can add another pill or a half if I need to-90 is not that high--if you feel better ask for a less mg pill but take it more often--There are people taking far more mgs than either of us are--you are getting about the same as me daily--mine is just less but more often--I have done pretty well on these and believe me they had a hard time getting me to take anything for this--I was in hospital when they got me on them--Hang in there--Im just happy Im not having to take an anti-arrhythmia-MmeT P.s. I came out of hospital on 120mg ER--imagine that--!! so i asked for SA less mgs--I like to have control--if need less-take less----once you take an ER you are on the ride
360mg per day is the max. I take an extended release capsule of 120mg once a day but it is available in 180mg dose in Slozem, maybe worth asking later if you can try that. You should always take the same make of Diltiazem because the formulation differs with the make.
I was on 180mg diltiazem once daily after my ablation but this was raised to 300mg once daily after I had ventricular bigeminy. Still on this and it is now 4 months post ablation.
I take Viazem (Diltiazem) 180mg a day extended release capsule, have been on it for 4 years with no problems. As Buffafly stated you should take same make of Diltiazem. About 3 months ago Viazem had a problem with manufacturing and I could not get it anywhere. I was given Zemtard (Diltiazem)and had to stop taking it after 5 days, awful side effects and was then put onto Adizem (Diltiazem) This was better but still had some side effects, I am now back on Viazem and no side effects.
Cassie
Strange isn't it? I was on Adizem which had some odd side effects, then the pharmacist gave me Slozem because the GP hadn't specified the make. I preferred Slozem (less additives) so when I discovered you should stay with one make I had a big argument with the GP over it - I won but it was very stressful 😰
I take 90mg prolonged release Diltiazam x2 a day. Definately settled down my heart rate to the 80's no side effects. Also taking 7.5 bisoprolol ramapril 2.5 x 2 spironlactone 2.5 No side effects too! AF since July 2019. Not symptomatic of AF condition. Feel very lucky about that too!
I take 180 mg twice a day, so max dose. No noted problems.
Thanks reassuring
Jeeze, I only take it now when I have afib and my HR goes over 100, and its 30mg. My Doc originally wanted me to take it 2x a day along with 225mg of Propafenone. Within 24 hours, I went into afib and stayed there for 30 continuous hours and my HR dropped to 42. I could barely stand up. Got off both immediately. Will never take any meds like that ever again.
Oh sorry to hear this 😩 my concern is the tabs are for high blood pressure also and I have low blood pressure ?
I'd suggest to talk with your pharmacist. They are really good with ever kind of med.
I'm the same AFib 18 years. Was in beta blockers for years all different ones from the lowest to the highest. We t off all of them when pregnant 10 year's ago. And have taking nothing since. Then August my heart so bad I started on bisoprodol I on it 8 days and didn't sleep for nearly a week so went off it. And two days later git such a reaction i skipped si many beats the pain in my arm was very bad. In bed for a week. Didn't have that reaction years ago. But I'm older now. I was prescribed diltiazam 90mg told I can take when skipped beats are bad if I don't want to take them everyday. But I suffer with low blood pressure so don't want to take them either. My heart is getting worse. Skipping in my sleep. So I know how you feel. X
I did not handle diltiazem well so my Dr put me on Chlorthalidon (12.5MG) and doing much better.
I have been on 240mg Diltiazem CD once a day for over four years with 50mg Flecainide twice a day , no problems after the initial loading doses.
I also take Telmisarton BP medication 80mg of Teltartan and when that was recently increased from 40mg I had a reaction to a different brand (Mizart ) and had to go back on
the Teltartan as Mizart didnt seem to work.
So in my case the Diltiazem doesnt seem to impact my blood pressure.
My pulse is still the same as before afib 50 / 53 and providing I dont take the Flec and Diltiazem together I dont seem to have any side effects.
Together thou I get quite nauseous .
My BP seems to stay 124 / 68
Thanks that’s helpful
I was on 200mg modified release daily. Had issues with it. I thought I was over prescribed also . Side effects were tiredness, slight breathlessness sometimes, poor exercise tolerance max HR 137, poor memory , brain fog. After I stopped it took 4 to 6 weeks for the side effects to disappear. Looking I also feel the side effects cumulatively got worse over the 10 months I took it. I did not really realise this at the time
Note other people have no trouble at all with it.
Did you take Diltiazem alone? I had the same problems when I took 240mg combined with Propafenone but not with 120mg Diltiazem alone. There was an article in a newspaper recently saying that older people are often over medicated because they don't process meds as well as the young people they were tested on.
No , I also took flecainide 50mg x 2 and paradaxa (dabigtatran). I stopped taking the Flecainide a month before the other two (it was before my 3 months post ablation check and I think the EP wanted to know if AFIB would return if the rhythm was not controlled by flecainide). Stopping that showed no improvements in side effects. Additionally the heart doctor at Macclesfield hospital confirmed it was more likely the Dabigatran causing the symptoms. She did try me with 120Mg for a while which was a bit better, but owing to the fact I had an AF attack during the time I was on the 120mg they put me back to 200mg, despite the fact it was actually because I missed my evening dose of flecainide and woke up in the morning and went straight into AFIB! I blamed the ditiazem for that too, - poor memory and brain fog doesn't help in remembering to take pills! I know the Pradaxa was not responsible for the side effect symptoms as I only started taking that three weeks before my ablation by which time I had been on Diltiazem and flecainide for 6 months and already had the bad symptoms
I take 240MG- long acting one capsule per day
was increased from 180
No side effects noted- now did have lethargic feelings when first taken. my question is what are the silent side effects that may occur after extended use?
It’s whats keeping my HR from 105-115 during the day- at night 55-80. (have Atrial Flutter- no Afib seen on EKG
I think my HR is to high. I don’t care for meds either - Flecanide and Metoprolol were not working for me
I am Seeking appointment with different Dr in Texas as a consult for a 4th ablation- yikes
Good luck
Good luck , I hate side effects of meds to the point I won’t take them as tried so any and fed up with them
I take 360 MG ER (time released) once daily. It works for me, and I have had no problems.
I hope it works well for you!
I have been taking Viazem (diltiazem hydrochloride)180 mg. once a day for many years so your dosage doesn't seem unreasonable to me, the other prescribed medication I'm taking for my AF are Ramipril & Digoxin (previously prescribed beta blockers, not successful, then amiodarone which worked very well but I had to stop after a protracted period of time due to reasons covered elsewhere) plus warfarin as a blood thinner.
I have been in permanent AF and NSR* for around 25-30 years and have never been offered ablation, (probably because when I first contracted this disease ablation was in its infancy and open heart surgery was the only NHS option for correction). When I became aware, I asked why I had not been offered ablation and was told that because I had been in the NSR* condition for such a long time I would probably need several operations to correct it, as I was responding so well to the medication they felt that the risk out weighed the possible benefit.
I guess I'm one of the lucky ones because to date I have had quite a comfortable life utilising medication to control my my condition.
Very best wishes to you and I hope you have a successful resolution for your condition shortly.
*Non Sinus Rhythm
Ablation or Medication
Coughing and breathing problems with medication 
insomnia and heart medication 
Osteoporosis and medication side effects
Unsuitable medication for AF?
