Cardizem

What is Cardizem?

Cardizem is used for the treatment of chest pain caused mostly by lack of oxygen to the heart.  This condition, called angina pectoris, is caused by clogged arteries.  Cardizem is a brand name for the drug diltiazem, and it comes in four different forms.  Cardizem CD is a controlled release formula, Cardizem LA is an extended-release once per day tablet, and Cardizem SR is only used for treating high blood pressure.

Cardizem is a calcium channel blocker, which dilates blood vessels and reduces the heart rate reducing blood pressure and the pain of angina and chronic stable angina.  Cardizem is also prescribed for Raynaud's phenomenon, which appears as a loss of circulation in the toes and fingers.

Doctors often prescribe Cardizem to prevent heart attack and for treatment of involuntary movements as caused by tardive dyskinesia. 

Cardizem Drip?

If a case is severe enough, the patient might need to be placed under hospital care and Cardizem might need to be applied through an IV.  Patients who have had surgery for heart or artery problems are often placed on Cardizem until their conditions improve.  This is a leading reason why more patients survive heart surgery and attacks. 

Cardizem Atrial Fibrillation:

Cardizem is an important asset in the treatment of atrial fibrillation.  Cardiac conditions associated with this malady are rheumatic mitral valve disease, coronary artery disease, hypertension, and congestive heart failure.  Cardizem is often used by patients who have hyperthyroidism, hypoxia, are recovering from surgery, or are intoxicated. 

Cardizem Precautions:

If you take Cardizem for blood pressure, you may need to take it for the rest of your life because it is not a cure.  If you decide to stop taking Cardizem, especially if you have angina, do not stop all at once because your attacks may increase. 

Cardizem should be taken prior to eating and before going to bed.  It should be swallowed whole and not chewed, crushed, or split.  Take Cardizem as prescribed by your doctor no matter if your symptoms have disappeared or not. 

Do not double up on Cardizem dosage because you miss taking a pill on time.  If it is only a short time after the dose was to be taken, you can take it late, but if it is almost time to take another, skip the dose. 

Do not take Cardizem if you have low blood pressure or an allergic reaction to the medication.  If you suffer from sick sinus syndrome, do not take Cardizem.  If you have a second or third degree heart block, you shouldn't take Cardizem until you have a ventricular pacemaker installed.  Cardizem should not be used in the presence of lung congestion or after a recent heart attack. 

Cardizem Side Effects

You may experience side effects when taking Cardizem that include dizziness, fluid retention, fatigue, headache, rash, nausea, and weakness. 

Side effects that are more common with Cardizem CD, Cardizem SR, and Cardizem LA are abnormally slow heart rate and flushing.  Always consult your physician when you have uncommon situations with your body whenever you take prescription medicines.

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Cardizem

What is Cardizem?

Cardizem is used for the treatment of chest pain caused mostly by lack of oxygen to the heart.  This condition, called angina pectoris, is caused by clogged arteries.  Cardizem is a brand name for the drug diltiazem, and it comes in four different forms.  Cardizem CD is a controlled release formula, Cardizem LA is an extended-release once per day tablet, and Cardizem SR is only used for treating high blood pressure.

Cardizem is a calcium channel blocker, which dilates blood vessels and reduces the heart rate reducing blood pressure and the pain of angina and chronic stable angina.  Cardizem is also prescribed for Raynaud's phenomenon, which appears as a loss of circulation in the toes and fingers.

Doctors often prescribe Cardizem to prevent heart attack and for treatment of involuntary movements as caused by tardive dyskinesia. 

Cardizem Drip?

If a case is severe enough, the patient might need to be placed under hospital care and Cardizem might need to be applied through an IV.  Patients who have had surgery for heart or artery problems are often placed on Cardizem until their conditions improve.  This is a leading reason why more patients survive heart surgery and attacks. 

Cardizem Atrial Fibrillation:

Cardizem is an important asset in the treatment of atrial fibrillation.  Cardiac conditions associated with this malady are rheumatic mitral valve disease, coronary artery disease, hypertension, and congestive heart failure.  Cardizem is often used by patients who have hyperthyroidism, hypoxia, are recovering from surgery, or are intoxicated. 

Cardizem Precautions:

If you take Cardizem for blood pressure, you may need to take it for the rest of your life because it is not a cure.  If you decide to stop taking Cardizem, especially if you have angina, do not stop all at once because your attacks may increase. 

Cardizem should be taken prior to eating and before going to bed.  It should be swallowed whole and not chewed, crushed, or split.  Take Cardizem as prescribed by your doctor no matter if your symptoms have disappeared or not. 

Do not double up on Cardizem dosage because you miss taking a pill on time.  If it is only a short time after the dose was to be taken, you can take it late, but if it is almost time to take another, skip the dose. 

Do not take Cardizem if you have low blood pressure or an allergic reaction to the medication.  If you suffer from sick sinus syndrome, do not take Cardizem.  If you have a second or third degree heart block, you shouldn't take Cardizem until you have a ventricular pacemaker installed.  Cardizem should not be used in the presence of lung congestion or after a recent heart attack. 

Cardizem Side Effects

You may experience side effects when taking Cardizem that include dizziness, fluid retention, fatigue, headache, rash, nausea, and weakness. 

Side effects that are more common with Cardizem CD, Cardizem SR, and Cardizem LA are abnormally slow heart rate and flushing.  Always consult your physician when you have uncommon situations with your body whenever you take prescription medicines.

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Cardizem SR (diltiazem) is a calcium channel blocker administered to treat angina, hypertension, and certain varieties of arrhythmia. Cardizem SR relaxes the smooth muscle of arterial walls, increasing their inner diameter, allowing blood to flow with less restriction and lowering blood pressure. Cardizem SR also encourages the heart to slow the speed and strength of individual heartbeats, producing a further reduction in blood pressure.

Cardizem SR has also seen off-label use as an effective migraine prevention treatment. Additionally the medication is being used in the treatment of anal fissures.

The SR in this product stands for sustained release, an all-day formula that slowly releases the medication. Because of the way this tablet is formulated, it is important that it be swallowed whole and not be crushed, chewed, dissolved, or otherwise damaged. Patients unable to swallow whole tablets may want to speak with a doctor or pharmacist about other options.

Getting the Most from Cardizem SR

Cardizem SR is administered by tablets or capsules, and may be taken with or without food according to doctor instruction.

In both angina and hypertension, a starter dose of Cardizem SR is one 120 to 180 mg tablet by mouth once a day. In both cases it will take about 14 days for full benefit to be seen; dosage adjustments should not be made before then. After 14 days at lower doses, dosage may be increased, if needed, up to 480 mg, again taken once per day.

In hypertension, Cardizem SR should be producing full benefit in 14 days. It's not unusual for other hypertension treatments to be taken along with Cardizem SR. Use may continue for as long as the medication provides benefit, but be aware that other medications can influence Cardizem SR; adjustments may be necessary when other medications are added, removed, or modified.

In treating angina, it's most important to be aware that Cardizem SR reduces the frequency and duration of angina attacks, but does not necessarily stop them altogether and will do nothing to address chest pain currently being experienced. For this reason a doctor may prescribe other medications to alleviate acute chest pain.

Important Precautions

Due to the potential for additive effects, caution is warranted in patients receiving Cardizem SR along with any agents known to affect cardiac function.

Cardizem SR is a substrate and an inhibitor of the cytochrome P-450 3A4 enzyme system. Other drugs that are specific substrates, inhibitors, or inducers of this enzyme system may have a significant impact on the efficacy and side effect profile of Cardizem SR. Patients taking other drugs that are substrates of CYP450 3A4, especially patients with renal or hepatic impairment, may require dosage adjustment when starting or stopping them in order to maintain optimum therapeutic blood levels.

Incidence of side effects while taking Cardizem SR is comparable to those experienced by patients taking placebo. Less than 3% of patients taking Cardizem SR reported:

• Edema
• Headache
• Nausea
• Rash
• Dizziness
• Weakness
• Fatigue

The above symptoms are not cause for concern unless severe enough to be disruptive.

Cardizem SR lowers blood pressure; as such, patients may experience side effects mimicking that of low blood pressure, even though the blood pressure dropped from too-high to normal. Patients should be alert for the warning signs and be prepared to deal with them:

• Lightheadedness
• Severe nausea
• Clammy skin
• Blurry vision
• Depression
• Severe fatigue
• Severe Dizziness
• Loss of consciousness

The above can often be managed with a bit of care; moving slowly, getting up from a resting position slowly, reducing emotional stress and so forth can help. If the side effects are simply from a change in blood pressure they should stop occurring after a few days, and of course blood pressure readings will say blood pressure is within normal range. If modifying behavior doesn't work, blood pressure readings say blood pressure is too high or low, or if severe consequences like loss of consciousness are experienced, emergency medical attention should be sought.