Diltiazem

[Daisaku]

Does Diltiazem produce dizziness or is it just me?

[SueSadie]

I felt terrible on it for months after surgery even when it was stopped. It stays in your body a long time but it will save your life

[Daisaku in reply to SueSadie]

thank you.

[Paulbounce]

It's a tough to one answer Dais. Med's can affect us all in different ways - what's good for one doesn't work for others. Yes you could feel dizzy - I wonder if a slow one might be better for you ? I'll put a link below which is worth a read.

Paul

nhs.uk/medicines/diltiazem/

[Daisaku in reply to Paulbounce]

Thank you.

[etheral]

The manufacturer lists dizziness as a common side effect. Best of luck, etheral

[Daisaku in reply to etheral]

Thank you.

[bantam12]

It can lower blood pressure and heart rate so certainly can cause dizziness, although it raised my heart rate, I tried it for a month and felt awful so gave up.

[Daisaku in reply to bantam12]

Can you please tell me what you mean by 'felt awful'

[bantam12 in reply to Daisaku]

It had the opposite effect on me and increased my heart rate, I’m used to a rate of low 60s and Diltiazem sent my rate into high 90s and above so I went back to taking Bisoprolol.

[Daisaku in reply to bantam12]

thank you.

[Chrissy7 in reply to bantam12]

I heard this before bantam from someone else on here.. I wonder why that happens? It’s a life saver for me… I’m just on. Very low dose …

[bantam12 in reply to Chrissy7]

He said it can happen on lower doses so suggested I take a higher dose, I said thanks but no thanks !!

[rebecca70]

I take diltiazam 300 extended release at bedtime to avoid the fatigue and woozy feeling.It helps me stay asleep .I'm

[Chrissy7 in reply to rebecca70]

Thant makes no sense to me 🤷‍♀️

[Spiritji]

I take 120 mg once a day in the morning and don’t recall any dizziness…… been taking for some years……. FeelGood about it

Also take pradaxa

[researchz]

Ask your dr if you should take smaller dose? Are you taking other meds?

[Daisaku in reply to researchz]

Cardilovol

[Slocombe]

I felt dreadful on 120mg twice a day, dizzy and nauseous, but feel great on 60mg three times a day.

[mjames1 in reply to Slocombe]

Slocome, Was the 120mg a 12 hour extended release formulation in a capsule, or did you take the tabs. I'm assumig the 60mg you're taking three times a day are the fast acting tabs?

Thanks.

[Slocombe in reply to mjames1]

Yes. Slow release capsule. Now take tablets.

[mjames1 in reply to mjames1]

Thanks. So to be clear, is the 120mg/day a 12-hour time release ? Or could it have been a 24-time release, which is usually annotated on the bottle as "once-a-day dosage".

Because if the former, then you actually went up in dosage (120 to 180mg) yet had

fewer side effects, probably because of the different formulation.

But it's the latter, than you went down in dosage from 240mg/day to 180/day, and

the reason you feel better is simply dose reduction.

I'm very interested because currently I'm on 120mg diltiazem 24-hour time release (once-a-day dosage) and really don't like the side effects. Thinking of talking to my doctor about switching to the equivalent dose of the fast acting tabs which would probably be

a 60mg tab every 12 hours or 40mg every 8 hours, which would mean I would be breaking up the tabs.

Jim

[HiloHairy]

It robs me of energy and gives me swollen ankles. Isn't that bad enough?

[pickypolly2 in reply to HiloHairy]

I feel so tired and weak. Swollen feet also. Not sure if its this tablet or the warfarin I take for Afib, It's no quality of life.

[SuziElley]

I’ve managed to get mine reduced to just 60mg but modified released and this has eliminated most of the side effects. Talk to your doctor about it.

[HiloHairy in reply to SuziElley]

Do you mean 60 mg per 24-hour period or several doses of 60 mg?

[SuziElley in reply to HiloHairy]

One per 24 hour period. Modified release, same as slow release

[bassets]

I have this twice a day - it's made me weary but never dizzy. I think it depends how you react to the drug and maybe you will be able to accept a modified dose as SuziElley says. Good luck.

[Singwell]

Nope it's not just you. I've written quite a lot about my Diltiazem experiences. It's a vasodilator and a rate controller. If you're on a slow release type it takes a 2-3 hours to upload to its maximum rate. At this point its effect will peak and that's when you might get a BP drop, start to feel a bit clammy or sweaty, and maybe want to sit down for a few minutes. My cardiologist explained to me about the dose upload, the symptoms I've given are my experience. I took 200mg slow release for nearly 2 years and twice it gave me big problem. See my post Tales of Diltiazem. Since then they've reduced my dose and after less than a couple of weeks on it I'm now not noticing any side effects.

Keep a record of the effects, then discuss a lower dose or possibly 2 doses in non slow release form. It's also worth talking with your pharmacist as they can often give useful information about doses available in your country

[mark66uk]

Taken 300mg since September 2019 and did have dizzy spells I have got more used to it now and they are few and far between. I have paroxysmal AF and get dizzy when I come out of it. HR from 140 drops to 50. Generally around 90 when not in AF. I am 59 still over weight but cycle around 80 miles a week. If the dilli keeps me ticking a bit of dizzy not too much of a price.

[Ablation7 in reply to mark66uk]

The “dilli” haha

[Chrissy7]

Yes.. it did for me.. what doseage are you on?

I started at 120 mg:day and actually do quite well on 30 mg day- 1/2 tablet twice daily. If I’m very active I may need another 1/2. Keeps my heart rate down.

[Daisaku in reply to Chrissy7]

180 now but i was on 240 for a while

[Chrissy7 in reply to Daisaku]

120 mg I think is normal dose. Have to consider your resting BP heart rate and body weight before they prs rive this drug …I think …

[jaz03]

Hi. It is the reaction of Diltiazem. You need your dose brought down. In NZ you can have 120Mg which I am on, 180mg and there could be one in between then 360mg ful dose.

I hadto separate and have rhymn Bisoprolol 2.5mg at night.

Diltiazem brought my heart belts 50hbpm within 2 hours of taking it.

You should take it with water and food.

@180mg I was lightheaded and dizzy.

It is better taken early morning.

I think it is more the results of it rather than the med.

It is a Calcium Channel Blocker.

It finally put my AF in CONTROL but 120mg was better as no dizziness.

cheri

[Chrissy7 in reply to jaz03]

Now that makes sense!

[Figbar]

I was prescribed Diltiazam 120mg ER to reduce blood pressure and to decrease heart rate when in A-Fib ( I have paroxysmal A-fib).My BP and rate dropped too low as well as overwhelming fatigue when taking a beta blocker, thus the Diltiazam prescription.

Diltiazam does what it’s supposed to do ( BP, rate) but no where near as the beta blocker did nor as some readers here have stated.

My resting rate is still in the 70’s at best . Recent weight loss and stopping sugar has lowered the BP better than Diltiazam.

I requested using Diltiazam as a PIP when in A/fib which I am currently “ trialing”.

Specifically to your question- I never felt truly dizzy but certainly off balance and just not clear headed.

Singwell’s explanation about the 120mg uploading explained my mid day increased off balance feeling.

I’m wondering if others are using Diltiazam as a PIP or feel a daily dose is vital?

Thank you

[Chrissy7 in reply to Figbar]

I use 30 mg fast acting as PIP but only need half usually.. so a tiny dose… works for me as needed

[Figbar in reply to Chrissy7]

My 30mg. Pill is not scored. Is yours? Or you are able to halve anyway?I’m so glad to hear this is working for you.

Thank you!

[Chrissy7 in reply to Figbar]

They are not but I do quite well with practice. And a pill cutter ..

[Figbar in reply to Chrissy7]

Thank you.

[Tantaanna]

I have not dizziness while taken Diltiazam. It was my last medication taken along with Xaralto. I now have a Watchman. I have had five ablations the last a touch up with the Watchman on my left appendage. I have been on my Afib journey since 2014 and taken metoprolol, Flecanide, ,Amiodarone.

[Daisaku in reply to Tantaanna]

I read that you the watchman procedure. how did that go and where did you have it done? Is it worth it? How are you feeling after the watchman?

[Tantaanna in reply to Daisaku]

I had the Watchman at Texas arrhythmia in Austin Texas with Dr Andrea Natalie I feel great!

[Daisaku in reply to Tantaanna]

why not at Mayo? I am curious because I am looking at possibly getting this after an ablation.

[Chrissy7 in reply to Tantaanna]

What is the watchman?I live in Canada so not sure it’s available here.

One I thing I forgot to point out re: diltiazem: last time I was in ER with erratic heart rate for was given a larger dose of diktiazem by iV in order to bring it back to normal. I’m not sure what the doseage was.

[TanyaSo]

I take 90 mg twice a day about one year and don't recall any dizziness.

[Thumpr]

After a bad experience with lopressor, the doc switched me to diltiazem (180 mg extended release) in 2003 and I've been taking it and warfarin ever since. I've never experienced unpleasant side effects with diltiazem and recently turned 79 with a healthy heart.