Diltiazem vs Verapamil
 | Diltiazem |  | Verapamil |  |
| 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. Blood can flow more easily and your heart works less hard to pump blood. OTHER USES: This section contains uses of this drug that are not listed in the approved professional labeling for the drug but that may be prescribed by your health care professional. Use this drug for a condition that is listed in this section only if it has been so prescribed by your health care professional. Diltiazem may also be used to control your heart rate if you have a fast/irregular heartbeat (such as atrial fibrillation). Long-acting forms of diltiazem may be used to treat high blood pressure. If your doctor prescribes diltiazem to treat high blood pressure, check with your pharmacist to make sure you are getting the correct form of diltiazem. | Verapamil is used with or without other medications to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). Lowering high blood pressure helps prevent strokes, heart attacks, and kidney problems. Verapamil is called a calcium channel blocker. It works by relaxing blood vessels so blood can flow more easily. Verapamil is also used to prevent chest pain (angina). It may help to increase your ability to exercise and decrease how often you may get angina attacks. Verapamil is also used to control your heart rate if you have a fast/irregular heartbeat (such as atrial fibrillation). It helps to lower the heart rate, helping you to feel more comfortable and increase your ability to exercise. OTHER USES: This section contains uses of this drug that are not listed in the approved professional labeling for the drug but that may be prescribed by your health care professional. Use this drug for a condition that is listed in this section only if it has been so prescribed by your health care professional. This drug may also be used to treat another type of heart disease (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy). | |||
Alternatives
Reviews
| Add Diltiazem review I was taking Norvasc but new doc changed the med to Diltiazem 120mg. BP has gone up 20 points after a month, heart rate has dropped to mid 50's. Pounding head ache every day, today first day no headache. Doc dismissed side effect, saying no other patient has reported headache. Doc stated that elevated BP is good with left ventricular block (huh?)Still on it, monitoring BP almost daily. Hate to do it but may change doc since she doesn't seem to be listening to me. Effective with few side effects. Makes me feel tired, but take 360mgs at night. Overall, the fatigue is manageable. have not been able to digest capsule that has 2 pills inside.therefore have passed med in stool. so started opening cap. and taking with applesauce. Dr. OKd this I am tired all the time anxious b/p still up | Add Verapamil review I been taking (calan) verapamil since 1988 for high blood pressure. I am now taking 240 mg verapamil and 25 mg of losartan potassium to control bp. My pulse in the morning drops to high 50's. br is usually around 125/70. I watch my salt content and avoid caffeine. I was taking diovan but asked the doctor to switch me to losartan because of cost. I also take hydrochlorothiazid, tamsulosin,warfarin, avodart, and simvastatin. About 7 years ago I switched doctors and he took me off of verapamil. 5 days later I had A-fib. Chemical shock did not work. The cardiologist put me back on verapamil. In 3 days my A_fib was gone. He then increased my dosage to 240 mg twice a day. Moved to Florida. New doctor. Talked doctor into my stop taking warfarin since I had no record of a-fib for 5 years. Changed bp medicaation to one 240 mg of verapamil a day and diovan. A year later I had a-fig for one day. I am now back on warfarin. Talked the doctor in changing diovan to losartan. Saves me approx $1000 a year. I do go to the bathroom a lot. I have had radiation treatment for prostate cancerand do have an enlarged prostste. I am slightly concerned about the interaction between verapamil and simvastatin. I am 81 and still play golf 3-4 time a week. I will stay with verapamil. Have been on this for over 10yrs.Have no complaints It works for me and is the only bp med I can take because I had kidney cancer in 1998-99.With only one kidney,I can no longer take bp meds that have any ingredient that removes water from kidneys.So far am very pleased with my medication. | |||
