Have different brands of diltiazem had a different effect on you?

[CarerEdi]

Hi folks, my mum came to visit us but forgot her meds - she has heart failture, AF and Raynaud's syndrome. I've been to about 5 pharmacies now in london to try to get her Angitil SR90 but no one has it.

One pharmacy has an alternative - I think it's Adizem SR capsules. However, some pharmacies have said they don't want to give a different brand.

We're coming home tonight (3rd day of no Angitil). Has anyone ever had any problems swapping brands? I'm veering to her just going without until tomorrow, when she can start taking her supply at home, but interested why it seems to be important which brand - unlike most other meds.

[meadfoot]

I take Flecainide and different brands from my usual Accord brand are less effective. Which do you feel is the bigger issue for your Mum right now, not taking her normal brand because she hasnt got them with her for several days or taking an alternative brand until she is home.

Can you ring her GP for advice. I wouldnt make the decision without medical guidance. Best to be safe.

[CarerEdi in reply to meadfoot]

I'll try to ask the GP but we've had problems before with changing meds via the GP without the cardiologist being involved, so probably better to wait. I can call anyway just to let them know so they don't say I'm absolutely making the wrong decision.

[Buffafly]

I’m not sure why it is important but it is! Something to do with the formulation I think. When I discovered this I had a bit of a row with my then GP who said I should be on generic diltiazem because of the cost and was annoyed with pharmacy but as she had prescribed 24hr slow release there isn’t a generic version of 120mg. I had Adizem and found it upset my bowel but when the pharmacy gave me Slozem I was fine and I found that Adizem had additives which Slozem didn’t so I insisted on being specifically prescribed Slozem from then on - cue ratty GP! I have now been changed to a different brand Zemtard but didn’t have any adverse reaction to the change. I do think the pharmacist is being super cautious but I don’t know if your mother’s brand has special properties. I don’t know why the pharmacist couldn’t give her some 60mg SR Diltiazem tablets to tide her over. But as you say, a bit too late now and as it was a low dose probably not vital. I take 180mg daily which like 90 is unusual as 60mg, 120, 240, 360 etc. are usually prescribed. I was taking 120 plus 60mg when my heart rate was raised but my GP didn’t like that hence the 180. Probably far TMI, sorry 😀

[CarerEdi in reply to Buffafly]

Not TMI at all, it's all useful for context. 3 out of 4 Pharmacists flat out refused so I realised they must have a point (it's not everyone it would affect, but I wouldn't want to roll the dice!) The last pharmacy I tried had some on order for someone else so I secured some by the end of the day. My mum was then too scared to swallow any anyway, and went another day without until she got back home but it was all fine. As you say, relatively low dose and she had no AF but higher than usual BP yday - nothing out of the ordinary.

Also interesting that only 2 out of the 4 Pharmacys seemed to understand how Emergency Prescriptions work (especially the big ones too busy selling the secret to eternal youth in a jar). Most helpful were the local independent chemists who knew how to check out the emergency script and pass it on if needed etc

[beardy_chris]

Changing brands (Angitil to Adizem) didn't affect me at all - but I tend to get very few side effects from anything!

[JOY2THEWORLD49]

Hi

Actually changing any brand of your usual med CHANGES THINGS.

In NZ when the usual brand halted we all got ACCORD manufacture, ACCORD was NOT PASSED by our PHARMAC either. But I was told that it was safe,

Reverted to normal one I'm much better.

This year again supply to NZ delayed. But with a Dr's letter of LIFE saving meant my Pharmacy got their supply first and on time!

Beta Blockers do not control my rapid Heart RATE and AF.

cheri JOY 76 (NZ)

[CarerEdi in reply to JOY2THEWORLD49]

wow! looks like something to watch out for for most heart meds then. Interesting how some things pass some countries and not others.

[JOY2THEWORLD49 in reply to CarerEdi]

Hi

There is a big $ bill for any manfacture to have their product checked.

I cannot get B12 Gold Top SOLGAR from NZ now, USA banded it so it comes from SPAIN! I am B12 deficient and I don't like B12 injections and one gets huge dose before running it down and then anther jab. I take N12 5 days a week sublingual.

cheri JOY