Diltiazem and side effects

[Electricblue1]

hello, my heart has been quite upset lately and I’ve been told to up my bisoprolol but am finding it hard going with feeling breathless so my arrhythmia nurse suggested she might put me on Diltiazem and am just wondering what’s it like as a pill and what are the common side effects on it.for people on here that are on it how do you get on with it. Does it affect the thyroid and kidneys in a bad way or is it safe. Thoughts!

[bantam12]

You have to try it and see if it works for you, personally I didn’t do well as it sent my heart rate into overdrive but no other side effects. I tried it for a good while but went back to Bisoprolol.

[Electricblue1 in reply to bantam12]

thank you, I’m going to try and stick with the bisoprolol and hope the side effects ease off 🤞

[Cabinessence in reply to Electricblue1]

How long haver you been on Biso and what side effects do you get?

[Electricblue1 in reply to Cabinessence]

I was ok on bisoprolol when I was taking 1.25 but when I went up to 2.5 twice a day I got tired and if I walk to far or up a hill I’m out of breath. I do have asthma which so far has been well controlled. The tiredness comes and goes , some days I’m ok but I miss that feeling of having good energy.

[Cabinessence in reply to Electricblue1]

I felt zombie-like for the first few weeks but that faded a bit but the shortness of breath and tiredness never subsided so I asked to switch to Sotadol which appears to be much better. Far more energy and shortness of breath more acceptable.

[Electricblue1 in reply to Cabinessence]

Do all beta blockers cause shortness of breath and tiredness or is it just bisoprolol.

[Cabinessence in reply to Electricblue1]

Not too sure to be honest. They work by suppressing adrenaline supplied to the heart to make it beat faster so when you exercise or walk upstairs etc the heart doesn't beat fast enough to allow the muscles to do that so you start to breathe heavier to compensate to get oxygen to the muscles. This in turn tires you out. Or something like that😂 The Sotalol I'm on now, doesn't affect me anywhere near as much as Bisoprolol did. Initially I was told to take 5mg of Biso in the morning and it knocked me sideways. I persevered for about 6 weeks, but the side effects never subsided. I then agreed to split the same dose into 2.5mg in the morning then 2.5mg at night. This was better, but still debilitating. My Cardiologist never suggested going down in dose and instead I just made a switch to Sotalol 40 mg twice daily. He said this was a low dose to start off with. My breathing and tiredness is certainly a lot better, but maybe it will start to suffer if he increases the dose, which I suspect he might as I'm still very much in persistent AFib, which I can feel throughout the day when it bubbles up. I was told Sotalol was much better at controlling the rhythm, but I think that's at higher dosages. Maybe he should've tried me on a lower dosage of Biso first before switching meds?

[mjames1]

Good suggestion. Some do well on bisoprolol but many do better on Diltiazem. They serve basically the same function. Just give it a couple of weeks for your body to get used to it. If that doesn't work, ask the nurse about trying a combination of both drugs in smaller doses. Sometimes you just have to experiment a little.

Jim

[Electricblue1 in reply to mjames1]

thank you, I was ok on 1.25 bisoprolol but my heart just seems upset lately. I’m hoping my body gets use to it and I can feel better on it. It just feels like walking uphill in to a strong wind.

[KiwiBlake]

I've been on 120mg Diltiazem for last 3 years. I haven't noticed any negative effects. In my job I am quite active (agriculture) and it hasn't affected my ability to work.

Blake

[beach_bum in reply to KiwiBlake]

Ditto for me. I’m 68. I was initially given metoprolol which left me out of breath and weak. After 3 days, I was switched to Diltiazem and the relief was instant. Never looked back. Zero side effects at all. I do moderate weight training 4 days a week, hike 2-5km every morning, and in the spring/summer/fall, ride my bike 20-40k daily.

I guess its a matter of trial and error as everyone is different.

[Threecats]

Hi Electricblue1

I’m in a similar position to you. Was on Bisoprolol 1.25mg for year but gradually my mild asthma grew worse. I kept being told such a tiny dose wouldn’t affect my lungs but it did for me, unfortunately.

I switched to Diltiazem 60mg modified release twice daily just under a fortnight ago but that didn’t hold my heart rate down enough (I’m in persistent fast AF at the moment).My GP suggested doubling the dose but that caused my blood pressure to go too low, so now I’m taking 120mg in the morning and 60mg in the evening. Heart rate still high at times but at least lungs are better!

Side effects for me are headaches in the main but as others have said, everyone is so different you can only try it and see.

All the best TC

[Buffafly]

I take 180mg extended release diltiazem per day. The only side effect I notice is a tendency to sluggish bowels but that’s not all bad because it actually helps my bowel problems as long as I’m careful with my diet.

[Ppiman]

I haven't used it but it is a calcium channel blocker rather than a beta blocker and they both produce a similar end result, I gather. In general, these heavily prescribed drugs have both been around for many years and seem to be especially well tolerated and safe.

Steve

[Antoinette48]

hello Electric blue.. I swapped Bisoprolol for Diltiazem and found suited me.. didn’t get the side effects like bisoprolol gave me..like night and day for me.

Heart rate is down from 100 at rest to 60/70 bpm.Variable because I have irregularly irregular AF permanently. New to the forum so Hello everyone!

I am also waiting for an AVR so I am very scared at the moment. Reading all your responses is really helping Thank you.

[Singwell]

My experience- assuming the idea is to take Diltiazem instead of Bisoprolol - make sure you get the right dose for you.

In the UK we offer slow release form only on prescription and the higher doses have a rise time, then peak around 2 hours in. You can sometimes really feel that when it preaks! Sudden low blood pressure was my response when my dose was too high. Since lowering the dose it's fine.

Other side effects - makes you photosensitive so watch out for sunlight in.hot weather and cover up well. No issues with kidneys or liver. If I had a choice between Diltiazem and Bisoprolol I'd take the former. I've had both and I wasn't a fan of Bisoprolol.

[kkatz]

I have been on 180mg SR since first diagnosed in 2017 .As far as I am aware no side effects.

[Ducky2003]

When I was first diagnosed, I was put on Bisoprolol and I could not function. I was so breathless, going upstairs was like climbing the north face of the Eiger and I could not walk more than 50mtrs on the flat before having to stop.

My pharmacist explained that it attaches to receptors in the lungs as well as the heart and it was he who recommended I discuss Diltiazem with my cardiologist.

This I did and have been on Diltiazem since so that was about 6 years ago.

Initially, I had a bit of fluid retention in my ankles but that cleared and I have got hyperplasia of my gums, which is a known side effect too. Its just mild extra gum growth but my hygienist keeps an eye on it. On the occasions I have stopped taking it whilst they've checked something out, the hyperplasia disappears.

I'm on 240 modified release per day but have been on 360 in the past.

Nothing would entice me to take Bisoprolol ever again.

[SuziElley]

I’ve been on Diltiazem for nearly two years now. It took a while to adjust the dose to one that suits me as I found it caused fluid retention. The higher dose was causing so mu retention that my GP worked with me to get to the final low dose of 60mg slow release. I’m also having to take furosemide every day to stay on top of it, but with regards my heart, it’s been great!

[mav7 in reply to SuziElley]

Did the fluid retention subside with a lower dose ? Fluid retention being swollen ankles ?

Thanks !

[SuziElley in reply to mav7]

somewhat, but not enough. I now take furosemide every day to keep it under control…..another pill to add to the pile 🙄

[mav7 in reply to SuziElley]

Thanks for reply !

Best to you in managing your health.

[jan-ran in reply to SuziElley]

hi, my husband suddenly started silent af at Christmas. He was given 240 diltiazem for it, as bisoprolol brought on a copd bronchospasm which has not gone away. He has put on weight because of fluid retention, and was given first fuseromide, then bumetanide, but neither have worked. He needs to lose weight anyway, but he’s putting it on because of the edema. It’s quite distressing. Has anyone had this experience? Do you know of other diuretics that might work for him? Thanks.

[JOY2THEWORLD49]

Hi

Diltiazem has halted the worsening of heart due to the best outcome.

Care must be taken as even 1/2 dose 180mg TOO MUCH.

Diltiazem in AM. 120mg slow release.

Bisoprolol in PM. 2.5mg

= 123/70. 69-88 H/R DAY. 47 H/R NIGHT

Bingo.

No side effects with 120mg. S/E 180mg dose LIGHT HEADED.

Go for it!

With me Diltiazem CCB works on Heart Rate

BISOPROLOL works on BP

Both work on ARTHYMA

cheers JOY. 74. (NZ)

[Electricblue1 in reply to JOY2THEWORLD49]

thank you , if I don’t get on with the upped dose of. Bisoprolol then I might give it a go.

[Cabinessence]

Sorry just read again and see it's breathlessness you get. I did as well, in addition to feeling very tired around 5 hours after taking it. Also caused a cough. Switched to Sotalol last Friday and already my breathing's so much better and tiredness much improved.

[Electricblue1 in reply to Cabinessence]

hi, is sotalol a beta blocker too. I’m wondering if another beta blocker will be better.

[Cabinessence in reply to Electricblue1]

Yes it is but it's a different type to Bisoprolol. Like Biso, some get on with it, others don't.