What does the drug Cardizem do?

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What does the drug Cardizem do?

Diltiazem is used to prevent chest pain (angina). It may help to increase your ability to exercise and decrease how often you may get angina attacks. Diltiazem is called a calcium channel blocker. It works by relaxing blood vessels in the body and heart and lowers the heart rate.

What is another name for Cardizem?

Diltiazem, Oral Capsule. Diltiazem oral capsule is available as both a generic and brand-name drug. Brand names: Cardizem CD, and Cardizem LA. It is available as an immediate-release capsule and an extended-release capsule.

What side effects does diltiazem have?

Common side effects

  • swollen hands, ankles or feet.
  • headaches.
  • feeling dizzy and lightheaded.
  • feeling tired, weak and generally unwell.
  • feeling hot (flushing) and redness of the skin.
  • itching or burning on the skin where you use the cream or ointment.
  • stomach pain, indigestion and constipation.

What is verapamil used for?

Verapamil is used to treat high blood pressure and to control angina (chest pain). The immediate-release tablets are also used alone or with other medications to prevent and treat irregular heartbeats.

Who should not take verapamil?

Also, avoid taking it if you have any degree of heart failure and are receiving a beta blocker drug. For people with low blood pressure: Don’t take verapamil if you have low blood pressure (systolic pressure less than 90 mm Hg). Verapamil may decrease your blood pressure too much, which may lead to dizziness.

What are the long term side effects of verapamil?

If it continues for a long time, the heart and arteries may not function properly. This can damage the blood vessels of the brain, heart, and kidneys, resulting in a stroke, heart failure, or kidney failure. High blood pressure may also increase the risk of heart attacks.

Why was verapamil recalled?

This recall is due to an impurity, N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), which was found in the recalled products.

Is there an alternative to verapamil?

Worldwide, beta blockers and vasodilators, especially the calcium-channel blockers, are the most commonly used alternative agents. Several studies comparing these 2 classes of medications are reviewed. These studies indicate that verapamil, nifedipine and diltiazem are all comparable in efficacy to beta blockers.

Do you gain weight on verapamil?

We conclude that propranolol, gabapentin, atenolol, verapamil and valproate affect body weight in a modest percentage of patients at 6 months. A greater mean weight gain at 6 months was found in patients treated with pizotifen, amitriptyline, and, in one patient out of 13, with propranolol.

Is verapamil good for anxiety?

Calcium channel blockers profoundly influence calcium metabolism and the transport of calcium. Even though the evidence for the role of calcium remains weak, drugs affecting calcium might be useful in the treatment of anxiety disorders. One of these compounds, verapamil, has been used to treat mood disorders.

Is verapamil a good drug?

Verapamil is used to treat high blood pressure. Lowering high blood pressure helps prevent strokes, heart attacks, and kidney problems. Verapamil belongs to a class of drugs known as calcium channel blockers. It works by relaxing blood vessels so blood can flow more easily.

Can I lose weight on verapamil?

People taking verapamil to lower high blood pressure should also make lifestyle changes including managing high blood pressure and high cholesterol, losing weight if they are overweight, stopping smoking if they smoke, and partaking in exercise as per a doctor’s recommendations.

Can I drink coffee with verapamil?

Drinking coffee and taking verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan) can increase the risk of side effects for coffee including jitteriness, headache, and an increased heartbeat. Cimetidine (Tagamet)Interaction Rating: Minor Be cautious with this combination.

Can you just stop taking verapamil?

What happens if you suddenly stop taking verapamil (Calan)? Stopping verapamil (Calan) can cause your blood pressure to rise. If you are taking it for high blood pressure, you should continue taking this medication even if you feel fine as high blood pressure often has no symptoms.

How long does it take for verapamil to work?

Verapamil is modestly effective for migraine but it takes about 2 weeks to work, and dose may need to be escalated too requiring more time.

Is it better to take amlodipine in the morning or at night?

It does not matter what time of day you take amlodipine (morning or evening) but it is best to take it at the same time every day, when you are most likely to remember, for more even blood levels and therefore effectiveness. Amlodipine is a calcium channel blocker that dilates blood vessels and improves blood flow.

Why are calcium channel blockers bad for you?

Calcium-channel blockers are widely used as an effective treatment for hypertension and angina. Several studies have raised questions about their safety, suggesting that calcium-channel blockers can increase the rates of myocardial infarction (MI) and death, particularly in patients with heart disease.

Is verapamil bad for kidneys?

If it continues for a long time, the heart and arteries may not function properly. This can damage the blood vessels of the brain, heart, and kidneys, resulting in a stroke, heart failure, or kidney failure.

Does verapamil cause depression?

Verapamil may cause depression, confusion, and impotence.

Does verapamil make you pee more?

Verapamil increased the tidal voided urine volume, the pressure at which micturition was induced, and the end-point pressure of micturition, and reduced the voiding in obstructed and control bladders.

What drugs interact with verapamil?

Some products that may interact with this drug include: aliskiren, clonidine, disopyramide, dofetilide, dolasetron, fingolimod, lithium. Other medications can affect the removal of verapamil from your body, which may affect how verapamil works.

Is it safe to take ibuprofen with verapamil?

ibuprofen verapamil The combination may cause your blood pressure to increase. You may need a dose adjustment or your blood pressure checked more often. Also, if you are already taking the combination and stop taking ibuprofen, your blood pressure may decrease.

Can you take vitamin D with verapamil?

Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium. Calcium can affect the heart. Verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan) can also affect the heart. Do not take large amounts of vitamin D if you are taking verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan).

What are the worst blood pressure medications?

Both Yancy and Clements point out that those medications include:

  • thiazide diuretics (chlorthalidone, hydrochlorothiazide)
  • ACE inhibitors (benazepril, zofenopril, lisinopril, and many others)
  • calcium channel blockers (amlodipine, diltiazem)
  • angiotensin II receptor blockers (losartan, valsartan)

What are the top 5 blood pressure medications?

Common Medications for High Blood Pressure

  • Irbesartan (Avapro) is an angiotensin II receptor blocker.
  • Lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril) is an ACE inhibitor.
  • Losartan (Cozaar) is an angiotensin II receptor blocker.
  • Metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL) is a beta blocker.
  • Valsartan (Diovan) is an angiotensin II receptor blocker.

What is the safest blood pressure medicine for the elderly?

Angiotensin Receptor Blockers ARBs are considered the alternative first-line treatment for hypertension in the elderly population when a diuretic is contraindicated. In elderly hypertensive patients with diabetes or HF, ARBs are considered first-line treatment and an alternative to ACE inhibitors.