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Back to Cardiology Drug index
Name: Diltiazem hydrochloride
Pregnancy Category C
Drug classes
- Calcium channel-blocker
- Antianginal drug
- Antihypertensive
Therapeutic actions
Inhibits the movement of calcium ions across the membranes of cardiac
and
arterial muscle cells, which results in the depression of impulse
formation in specialized cardiac pacemaker cells, slowing of the
velocity of conduction of the cardiac impulse, depression of myocardial
contractility, and dilation of coronary arteries and arterioles and
peripheral arterioles; these effects lead to decreased cardiac work,
decreased cardiac energy consumption, and in patients with vasospastic
(Prinzmetal's) angina, increased delivery of oxygen to myocardial
cells.
Indications
- Angina pectoris due to coronary artery spasm (Prinzmetal's variant
angina)
- Effort-associated angina; chronic stable angina in patients not
controlled by beta-adrenergic blockers, nitrates
- Essential hypertension (sustained release)
- Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (parenteral)
Contraindications/cautions
Allergy to diltiazem, impaired hepatic or renal function, sick sinus
syndrome, heart block (second or third degree), lactation.
Adverse effects
- CNS: Dizziness, lightheadedness, headache, asthenia, fatigue
- GI: Nausea, hepatic injury
- CV: Peripheral edema, hypotension, arrhythmias, bradycardia, AV block,
asystole
- Dermatologic: Flushing, rash
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