Questions on New Med

Hi Everyone,

My mom has recently started taking Diltiszen generic for Cardizem for blood pressure and palpitations but although her doctor insists this is a very good medicine for blood pressure her blood pressure is still a bit hit...i wanted to know if anyone else is on this med for blood pressure and does it work for you? I'm taking her on thurs to get a second opinion.

5 Comments

diltiazem

by justme - 2009-09-13 01:09:49

Lowering blood pressure is like a secondary effect of this medication, it is not the primary purpose, and does not happen for every person that takes it. Chances are this was not perscribed solely for lowering blood pressure. I'm taking this and I think that Dr's use the 'lowering blood pressure' statement as almost a selling feature of this medication, because some of the things that it really works on are kind of scary. The primary purpose of diltiazem/cardizem is to help reduce arythmeia's. Don't be afraid of talking to her doctor about specifics of the medications that have been perscribed and what to expect from each of them. You should also discuss them in even more detail with the pharmacist when you get the perscriptions filled. And I totally agree, research (and personal experience) shows that it can take anywhere from 2-6 weeks for medications to reach their maximum effectivness and for things, like blood pressure, to be impacted.

Time

by Blueaustralia - 2009-09-13 03:09:24

Blood pressure tablets can take a time to work. My doc told me it could be up to three weeks when my medication was changed.

Hope all goes well for your mother.

Cheers from Oz Blue

Medicines & High BP

by SMITTY - 2009-09-13 03:09:24

Hello Simplicity,

I have a long story to tell about Cardizem/diltiazem and my experiences. Of course most people will tell you all of my stories are long so stop reading when you get tired. My price is the same whether you read it all or not, and I will refund your money if you are not satisfied as soon as you tell me where to send the check.

I had diltiazem (Cardizem) first prescribed at 30 mg/day or high BP in '85. Worked like a charm. The Dr. that gave it to me went to greener pastures and I got another cardiologist and he took be off the diltiazem and put me on a beta blocker (Inderal, I think) for BP control. Worked like a charm, EXCEPT it also lowered my heart rate and made me feel like I had the flu. This was before I ever heard of a pacemaker. Months went by and I complained and complained and finally went to another doctor who put me back on diltiazem, only at a higher dosage than I had originally. BP went down but arrhythmia became a big problem and I would complain and he would up the dosage and I would complain of the arrhythmia and he would up the dosage until I was taking 360 mg/day. BP was like 100/50 but the arrhythmia was stopping me from doing anything.

It is now three or four years since I started taking diltiazem. I should add the diltiazem I was taking was not the long acting, or extended release form, which meant all of the med is said to be out of the system in about 6 hours. I was taking 120mg at 6, 12 & 6. One day I realized that when I would awaken in the morning my arrhythmia was much less and I would feel half way decent until about 2 hrs. after I took my meds. My other meds were potassium, Lasix and Synthroid, none of which had ever made feel bad.

Being no very smart I chose to start meddling with my dosage of diltiazem to see what would happen. Over the coming year I reduced that 360mg/day down to 60mg/day and actually felt like a normal human again. By then my BP was up into the 120/70 range where is has stayed all these years. Of course the worst part was having to confess to my doctor what I had done, but he was very nice about it. Looked at me shook his head, made notation in my records and never brought the subject again, but continued to fill my requests for prescriptions.

Over the years I've had to change doctors because some retired, some died, and we moved a couple of times. The result is I've had other meds. prescribed, especially beta blockers and the calcium channel blockers, Norvasc, Amlodipine and Verapamil. At one time I was prescribed Cozarr for BP control, but that one is not god for me since I have congestive heart failure, a little item my doctor overlooked and later apologized for. While The Norvasc and Amlodipine worked just fine, they were much, much more expensive than my old faithful diltiazem. In fact the difference in cost alone would make my BP go up several points when I had a prescription filled.

Are you still with me? Anyway, what I'm leading up to, unless you have already done it, is tell your mother's doctor about your concern regarding her BP. As you can see, from my experience alone there are many meds available for the treatment of high BP. Before a doctor chooses one he must take into consideration other factors that may have an impact on the person’s health. I don't know what dose of diltiazem your mother is taking, but as you can see I have experience with dosages ranging from 30mg/day to 360 mg/day. All levels worked fine, so far as BP is concerned but the side effects with the higher doses were not good for me.

This is not intended as a slap at the doctors, but our doctors, based on their knowledge and experience take their best guess when prescribing medicines for us. We are all different and many of us react differently to different medicines. In other words, don't give up on a doctor until you feel you have exhausted all possibilities with one.

Good luck to your mother,

Smitty

High Blood Pressure

by Pookie - 2009-09-13 11:09:49

Hi.

I don't know a lot about high blood pressure as I "suffer" from very low blood pressure, however, my husband was just put on Cozaar (25 mgs once per day) and it has worked like a dream for him. The other name written on the bottle is Losartan Pot.

Blue is correct though, sometimes it takes a few weeks for the meds to work, everyone's body is different.

A second opinion is always a good idea.

Good luck,
Pookie

Diltiazem

by maryanne - 2009-09-13 12:09:16

Both Blue and Pookie would be correct in stating it does take time for BP(blood pressure) medication to have full efficacy. You don't mention the dosage your mother in on. Diltiazem is a Calcium Channel block and antiarrhythmic drug. It is despensed in varying dosages dependant on the patients diagnosis and what the goal of treatment.

There are many drugs that can interact with Diltiazem which can either potentiate it's effects or lessen it's effect. Again, I don't know if your mother is taking any other medications but if she is that too could be affecting how the drug is working. Does your mother use OTC's(over the counter)medications as those could be interferring with Diltiazem

Might I suggest you do a little bit more research with regards to you mothers medications....make a list of her medications take it into the pharmacist and speak with them.....also remember there are different dosages for the Diltiazem so she just might need her dosage increased.

All the best.....cheers Mary Anne

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