Diltiazem

[ss017]

I have been struggling with high heart rate for a few weeks now ever since I weaned off of Propranolol. It has been staying in the high 90s-a little over 100 for most of the day except when laying down. I have had all the heart tests done and they all came back normal. I asked my cardiologist what I should do. He said I could do 2 week holter monitor (which I already recently did when I was on Propranolol) to see if the medication may have masked any arrhythmias present. He said he could also prescribe me Diltiazem 30mg to take as needed. Does anyone have any experience taking this medication? Are there any side effects? And can you in fact take it as needed? Any information on this drug or what I should do would be super helpful. I just want my heart to calm down, I never had this issue before starting Propranolol. That makes me think it is a withdrawal effect from the medication. Should i give it a little more time to see if my heart rate goes down on its own or should i take the Diltiazem as needed?

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Diltiazem is a CCI (calcium channel inhibitor) primarily prescribed for angina and blood pressure. It is also used for some heart arrithyms. A few people get side effects which can include odema and dizziness (usually caused by overly low blood pressure).

I cannot really advise whether you should take it or not. In your position I would take "as needed" and hope the periods in-between extend. Good luck!

[dunestar]

You could always try it and see if it helps. When you are in a "stuck" position it sometimes helps to change things to see if it has an effect. In the Spring I went through a period of heart sometimes beating faster for as long as a day. I didn't like it as it made me feel anxious and then you get into negative feedback loops. I used to try distraction techniques - find something calming to do which can absorb your attention, or slow breathing.

[ss017 in reply to dunestar]

Did you have to take anything for it or did it eventually return back to normal?

[dunestar in reply to ss017]

No, didn't take anything for it and things calmed down eventually. But my periods of faster heart rate didn't last all that long.

[heathkir1]

I was on that for a few years and it worked really well. Only side effect I had was swollen ankles if it was hot.

[ss017 in reply to heathkir1]

Did you take it for fast heart rate? How many mgs did you take?

[heathkir1 in reply to ss017]

Yes my heart rate was too fast. I was in 400mg, they put it up slowly and it really worked. Wish I could have it again, I’m on carvedolol and they have been putting it up for 6 months and it’s still not working! Cardiologist took me of Diltaziem for some reason.