What should I tell my care team before I take this medication?
They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
-Heart attack
-Heart disease
-Irregular heartbeat or rhythm
-Low blood pressure
-An unusual or allergic reaction to diltiazem, other medications, foods, dyes, or preservatives
-Pregnant or trying to get pregnant
-Breast-feeding
What may interact with this medication?
Do not take this medication with any of the following:
-Cisapride
-Hawthorn
-Pimozide
-Ranolazine
-Red yeast rice
This medication may also interact with the following:
-Buspirone
-Carbamazepine
-Cimetidine
-Cyclosporine
-Digoxin
-Local anesthetics or general anesthetics
-Lovastatin
-Medications for anxiety or difficulty sleeping like midazolam and triazolam
-Medications for high blood pressure or heart problems
-Quinidine
-Rifampin, rifabutin, or rifapentine
This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.
What should I watch for while using this medication?
Visit your care team for regular checks on your progress. Check your blood pressure as directed. Know what your blood pressure should be and when to contact your care team.
Do not treat yourself for coughs, colds, or pain while you are using this medication without asking your care team for advice. Some medications may increase your blood pressure.
This medication may cause serious skin reactions. They can happen weeks to months after starting the medication. Contact your care team right away if you notice fevers or flu-like symptoms with a rash. The rash may be red or purple and then turn into blisters or peeling of the skin. You may also notice a red rash with swelling of the face, lips, or lymph nodes in your neck or under your arms.
This medication may affect your coordination, reaction time, or judgment. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you. Sit up or stand slowly to reduce the risk of dizzy or fainting spells. Drinking alcohol with this medication can increase the risk of these side effects.