Diltiazem

I've been on Camzyos for over 18 months now and my dosage has been stable for a long time, so maybe that's part of it. I suspect another reason is that I'm in Canada, and our system seems quite different from the US (which is where I assume you are located). I have a very good insurance policy and have had incredibly good support from my insurance company, the pharmacy, the manufacturer, my nurse-case-manager, and my cardiologist right from day 1. My wife and I went on a SIX week camping trip last year, and a single phone call resulted in them providing a one time (once per year maybe??) 30-day supply to ensure that I would not run out. Now that my dosage has stabilized, I'm getting echo tests every 3 months so we just had to schedule around that. As I said though, I'm so grateful for the support and cooperation I've encountered. It saddens me to hear the struggles so many people have had trying to get their regular monthly supply.

I’ve had no adverse effects on diltiazen and candesartan ( 24mg) though I can sleep like a log for 10 + hours. Not sure if that’s a symptom of the drugs or that I just like to sleep! My BP is about 140-150. Bit high I know but when candesartan is increased then it goes too far down. Happy on the 5mg of Camzyos. I too wish I understood the correlation between HCM and BP. Best wishes

I have been on D for a year with no issues or side effects

Has anyone had any side effects from taking Cardizem and working/exercising in hot humid weather? I take 180 extended release daily and have some side effects since it has become hot and humid. These include: dizziness, occasional nausea, pins and needles feeling in extremities. Just curious if anyone has had these issues while on this medication in hot, humid conditions. Thanks

Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect @chrisf1974 , I'm glad you found this online support group for HCM.
I found this from the Mayo Clinic:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/diltiazem-oral-route/description/drg-20071775
And found this online regarding ER Cardizem 180mg:

Cardizem 180 mg 24-hour extended release is a medication used to treat high blood pressure and control heart rate in conditions like atrial fibrillation. It works by relaxing blood vessels and slowing the heart rate, and it should be taken as prescribed by a doctor. Wikipedia healthy.kaiserpermanente.org

Overview of Cardizem 180 mg Extended Release
Cardizem is a medication that contains diltiazem, a non-dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker. It is primarily used to manage high blood pressure, angina (chest pain), and certain heart rhythm disorders.

Dosage and Administration
Form: Extended-release capsule
Strength: 180 mg
Frequency: Typically taken once daily
Instructions: Swallow the capsule whole. Do not crush or chew, as this can release the drug too quickly and increase side effects. If you have difficulty swallowing, you may open the capsule and sprinkle the contents on a spoonful of applesauce, but consume it immediately without chewing.
Uses
Cardizem is indicated for:

High blood pressure (hypertension)
Angina (chest pain)
Atrial fibrillation or flutter (irregular heartbeats)
Side Effects
Common side effects may include:

Swelling
Dizziness
Headaches
Low blood pressure
Serious side effects can occur, such as:

Slow heart rate
Heart failure
Liver problems
Allergic reactions
Precautions
Allergies: Do not use if allergic to diltiazem or any of its components.
Medical History: Inform your doctor if you have a history of heart disease, low blood pressure, or irregular heart rhythms.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: Use is not recommended during pregnancy, and safety during breastfeeding is unclear.
Always follow your healthcare provider's instructions regarding dosage and administration.

Wikipedia
WebMD

Have you talked to your cardiologist about these symptoms?
I would definitely put a call into to their office and get some guidance. We can't make medical judgements or diagnose here on Connect, but we can share our opinions, all for FREE! For what it's worth!
I would not hesitate to contact your doctor.

Has anyone taken Diltiazem SR 120 Mg before? How long did you take it? What are the side effects? Thank you

Hi @normanchester,

I combined your discussion with an existing discussion of the same title:

"Diltiazem"
- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/diltiazem/

This discussion was started by @mmicahk in the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy support group but has many members with varying heart issues who have taken Dilitiazem. @boatsforlife, @susanml and @sharona09 all shared their ongoing experiences with Dilitiazem.

@normanchester, while we wait for other members to jump in, are you comfortable sharing what led to you being prescribed Dilitiazem?

@JustinMcClanahan good morning Justin it took me a few minutes to find this, I'm not technology friendly Afib led me to the medication, I've been on it about a month and a half and I've been putting off procedures, thank you for placing me in the right place,

@normanchester I was given Diltiazem immediately when I was first diagnosed with A-fib. I took 180 mg SR once a day in the beginning but when it didn't slow the pulse enough, I started taking 180 mg twice a day, once in the morning and once at night. This worked best for me but I didn't get a NSR until I was cardioverted about 6 weeks after my diagnosis--had to be on blood thinner for 4 weeks before they would do the procedure. I was in NSR after that for about 5 months, then had three breakthroughs in a month--short periods of less than 6 hours but still very annoying. I finally said I wanted to see an electrophysiologist after reading all the information online about A-fib's progression. The EP gave me a choice and I thought I would try the anti-arrhythmic since I had been symptom free for a couple of months, but then I had two more breakthroughs, always at inconvenient times so I went to "plan B" and scheduled an ablation. I am two weeks post procedure and I am taking a blood thinner but no b/p medication and my blood pressure has been fine. I am in NSR. I am more than thrilled. What I noticed is that I no longer have that awareness of my heart beating in my chest like I did before; this was especially notable at night. I personally wish that I had insisted on seeing an electrophysiologist after the very first breakthrough after cardioversion. Medication is not a cure and while an ablation isn't either, it is a lot more likely to contain the problem if it is done early before your heart gets scarring from the A-fib episodes and spreads. I am very hopeful that I have a good result; I am back to exercising in the gym and I feel very much more "normal" than I did before on the meds. I'm no kid; I am 79 years old and I didn't want to live on more and more meds. As my husband's cardiologist told him years ago, "all medicine is really poison, but you have to hope the benefits outweigh the side effects." As for side effects, you should know that everyone is different; one person tolerates something very well, others can't stand it. That was me and Flecainide; that was a no go for me! Too scary for me, too many black box warnings for my peace of mind. IMO if you have A-fib, go see an electrophysiologist as soon as possible. But that's just me.

@sjm46 thank you very much I'm going to try to make it through the Christmas holidays, before I proceed