Diltiazem for High Blood Pressure User Reviews

• Sha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 19, 2020

"I first started this diltiazem CD 180mg once a day because I had high blood pressure and skipped heartbeats. When I first took the medication, I only had a few side effects which were constipation, weakness, tiredness. But as the months went by, my condition started to worsen. I was not myself, feeling depressed, tired all the time, having a pounding heartbeat with minimal activity. My nails started to look dead, like they were dehydrated and sunken in. I slept all the time, didn’t have an appetite so I lost weight, had bad anxiety, fainted once right before my med was switched, and had ongoing heart palpitations. I do not recommend this medication. It may be different for some, but it was a nightmare for me literally. I have been switched to another medication, and I am doing great and feel great. Please be careful with this medication, watch for side effects that can sneak up and cause problems."

• Ros...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 4, 2019

Diltiazem "I have an irregular heartbeat, so my doctor put me on Cartia XT 240 MG (diltiazem). I started having a racing heart, uncontrollable shakes, heated face, felt like my face was going to burn off, couldn't get out of bed, and went to the ER 3 times in a week. My kids finally looked up side effects to this drug, and I had them all. It was awful. I finally got off of it onto the plain Diltiazem. It works 100 times better without crazy side effects. I suggest you look up side effects before taking anything new. I know I will. I felt like I was dying."

• Nic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 3, 2018

Diltiazem "Started Cartia 120 mg XT (9th med for BP) racing heart felt like medium (lexiscan) used for Nuclear Stress test. Severe headache, increased BP 191/123 feel like garbage, called Cardiologist wants me to continue on it! Ringing in ears won't stop. Heart pounding so hard chest hurts and severe headache. I am stopping it, might as well be dead!"

• Lak...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 4, 2020

Diltiazem "What a nightmare! Ended up in ER with heavy PACs. Cardiologist put me on Cartia XT 120 MG. WHOA! I was living life as a race car. Now, I feel like I am still trying to run the race but in a 4-cylinder car rather than a race car. Exhausted. When I stand, I have to take a minute to allow my head to stop spinning, and if I get up from squatting to garden or such, it feels like the lights are going to go out! Feel pressure in my chest and just plain weak. Seeing my PCP next week. I am coming off this. No way I am living life feeling like this!"

• SJS...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 21, 2019

Diltiazem "I have been taking Cartia XT 180 (diltiazem) every other day for several years. It controls my BP and prevents SVT. There is a shortage (Aug 2019) so the pharmacy substituted Cardizem CD. Since then I have experienced episodes of rapid heart rate, increase in pitch and intensity of tinnitus and hot flashes. I just had my Thyroid levels tested today to see if my dose of Synthroid is too high. (After EKG was normal). If it isn’t the Synthroid, then it must be the Cardizem. Very frustrating - I don’t feel myself at all."

• Anonymous
• February 15, 2018

"Cardiologist suggested switching now to Diltiazem for fewer side effects, and Diltiazem would be better suited for my cardio profile. Started Diltiazem 240 mg once daily five days ago. Day one and two felt like I was tipsy with a headache that would come and go. Experienced red facial flushing. I made sure to drink a lot of water and stayed well-hydrated, avoiding all caffeine. Stopped all vitamin supplements before starting so I could have only the one variable starting the diltiazem. Felt I could not safely drive/focus due to the tipsy feeling and strange headaches. Day three brought dizziness, noticeable swelling in calves/ankles, and sinus stuffiness. Day four brought bouts of spontaneous rapid heartbeat, high pulse rate coming on like bursts of adrenaline out of the blue to the point where my hands would start to tremble and my legs felt weak just before the episode of rapid heartbeat. At this point, my legs are getting rather puffy. I am stopping the pill completely."

• Cas...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 10, 2018

Diltiazem "Taking 120 mg of Cartia XT for weaning off of a beta-blocker for blood pressure. It sent me into tachycardia, which woke me up with a heart rate of 165 beats per minute. Never in my life have I had a heart issue. While taking this medicine, I experience skipped beats, which are definitely uncomfortable, and I have sinus congestion that has led to an annoying cough. I hope I can wean off this medicine and not have to deal with a racing heart. I'm also experiencing heightened anxiety with this medicine."

• Bul...
• March 24, 2016

Diltiazem "Taking the slow-release, 120 mg version. I take it at night about 30 minutes before bedtime. Averts any dizziness since I am going to bed to sleep. BP has been good 125/80 generally. Resting pulse of about 60. Thankfully I am at optimal weight and I exercise 4 to 5 times weekly, mostly a 2-mile walk each time and about 50 sit-ups. Drinking lots of water to stay hydrated. Mild constipation so I eat a cup of yogurt at least every other day."

• Shm...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 28, 2019

"I started this medication, Diltiazem HCL, on a nightly dose to see if it might help alleviate some other symptoms. I began to notice I could constantly hear my pulse in my right ear, and confirmed the rhythm was in perfect sync with the pulse at my right temple. Asked my doctor if I should be concerned about the sound, and they said no and that it was safe to continue the medication. The pulsatile tinnitus got annoying to me after a while, so I discontinued the medication. The tinnitus stopped just over 24 hours after my last dose."

• Qus...
• March 27, 2020

"I'm taking diltiazem SR 90 mg twice a day for hypertension. I have CKD stage 4, it controls the blood pressure well, but with many intolerable adverse effects. I started to have flushing, redness, and hotness on my feet once I stand for a long time, my heart races with minimal activity or even when I stand from bed, and I have severe fatigue."

• Nan...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 13, 2014

"I have been taking Diltiazem 360 mg once a day for about 10 years along with 20 mg per day of Lisinopril for high blood pressure. I am 58 years old. This combination has kept me at normal BP numbers all these years. The Diltiazem capsules are 180 mg each so obviously I have to take 2 capsules (at the same time). I have noticed in the last few months my BP gets pretty low...about 90/60 and even lower. Every time I bend over I get real lightheaded not to mention feeling tired all the time so I decided to take just one capsule per day of the diltiazem along with the Lisinopril and in the last 3 days of doing so I feel 100% better! I think the 360mg is too much for me now maybe because I am getting older. My BP now stays about 117/73."

• Els...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 7, 2019

"Using 30 mg diltiazem 1/2 tab twice a day for high blood pressure. I am sensitive to all drugs, and I got side effects of itchy throat, stuffy nose, ankle edema, forgetfulness, and nightmares. Also, bursts of odd cardiac rhythm. Have to take 12-hour decongestant and 12-hour antihistamine to survive, which in turn raises b/p. Will ask for a change of med, usually, MD just rolls her eyes."

• lad...
• November 3, 2016

Diltiazem "I've been on Cartia XT for 1 year. Yes, past the side effects, please. Occasional dizziness, lightheadedness, some minor weight gain, but watching what I eat. Getting into the gym. Giving up the salt. Processed foods are also sodium-filled. The fatigue is awful on most days - I just have to get that nap in, but preferably not in Atlanta traffic. But overall, it definitely does its job! Blood pressure is excellent most days. My blood pressure was 200/120, triggering A-Fib, which landed me in the ER/Intensive Care last November for 4 days. YIKES!!! This morning's pressure was 112/80. AMAZING!"

• Ann...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 23, 2022

"Side effects 1-2 months 120 mg: horrible dreams, waking with pounding heart and BP raised, tinnitus, dry cough, feeling nauseous, skipped heartbeats, sleepiness throughout the day, stomach acidity, constipation, tinnitus, double vision in the mornings, BP not controlled, muscle pain. Going off it."

• Orc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 1, 2017

"I was taking 180 mg for 2 weeks and was not getting a decrease in BP. There was really no difference from not taking any meds. I had heart flutters and body aches where I thought I had one of the worst fibromyalgia bouts ever. My doctor doubled my dose. In one week, the body pains/aches worsened, my blood pressure went up, and my heart flutters worsened. It also gave me headaches, and my nails have never grown so fast in my life! On the 1st day off diltiazem, my body aches are already going away, as are the heart flutters. After 3 weeks of unsatisfactory treatment, I would not recommend this drug to anyone. I'm going to Atenolol."

• Lib...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 19, 2018

Diltiazem "Hypertension due to uncontrolled intractable pain. Enlarged heart with small mitral valve leak. 30 mg x 2 per day. Worked well for about a month, then extreme GI and eye dryness occurred to the point it changed my vision and affected my receding gum lines. Every one of these hypertension drugs has GI side effects and dryness that will affect your vision. Why can't I have what I really need: pain control? Then I wouldn't need a hypertension drug."

• chi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 26, 2018

Diltiazem "I developed white spots and sores in my mouth just a few days after starting this medication. I thought it was my partial plate doing it, made five trips to the dentist for adjustments, nothing worked, it just got worse. On an impulse, I researched the side effects of this med, and there you go - white spots and sores in the mouth. The dentist started treating me for thrush, so now I am on steroids and a mouthwash for that. Needless to say, I am no longer taking the med. I was also experiencing fatigue and dizziness."

• ste...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 29, 2013

"Diltiazem for High Blood Pressure: Atrial Fibrillation: Atrial Flutter. I took Diltiazem before surgery and then continued it after for high blood pressure. It worked just fine for a while, although the 12-hour dose only lasted for 4-5 hours in my case. Then I started getting toothaches and really bad gingivitis. I did have gingivitis already. I also started feeling lousy and only by coincidence did I stop taking the Diltiazem. Two days later my toothaches were gone and my gums started clearing up. I still thought it was a coincidence. I restarted Diltiazem again and the same thing happened again."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 18, 2021

"I was on Cardizem LA for a little over a month. After a couple of weeks, I began having waves of depression, pounding heart, dizziness, and all of these symptoms worsened. The last week I was on this med, I noticed a white blister in my mouth, which spread and became very sore. Along with that, I had blisters show up on my fingers with peeling skin. I researched other reviews here and figured it had to be the Cardizem. I have stopped taking it and have already noticed a big difference."

• Ski...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 20, 2019

Diltiazem "I've been on Diltiazem for decades, beginning with 240 mg. After cardiac ablation a few years ago, my dose was reduced to 180 mg. Over the years, with several prescription plans, I've used virtually every branded and generic version. I can't discern any difference between them. I'm now purchasing this drug mail order, as the cash price is less than the copay from my Part D plan! Diltiazem CD/ER keeps my BP in the normal range, with no noticeable side effects."

• Mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 14, 2013

"I will give this medication a couple more days, but so far it has been awful for me because of the side effects. I am constantly dizzy/lightheaded and feeling slightly sick to my stomach. As I have a daily 60-mile round-trip commute to and from work, that's scary. It also appears to be affecting my depth perception."

• DAN...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 18, 2014

"Couldn't sleep all night. Had hallucinations, unusual bad dreams, nightmares. But I did feel the chest pressure ease up and the chest pains were gone. I informed my doctor, and he immediately told me to stop the medicine. This was my first time on this pill: Diltiazem ER 120 mg, 1 at bedtime."

• Anonymous
• July 20, 2019

"Got off labetalol as it only made me sleep 20 hours a day. Gave me peeling hives and memory loss. Now taking diltiazem, and I’m calmer and my skin completely cleared up, I can smell foods again. Memory cleared up, have energy, and my libido has come back. Sometimes I have hot flashes, that’s okay. No racing of heart or chest pains. Bathroom problems are normal. Diltiazem has been a miracle, very little bad side effects. Can't believe I waited fifteen years to stop suffering and try other BP meds."

• afa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 30, 2023

"I had been using losartan 75 mg and was getting heart palpitations and feeling lousy. I switched to a different cardiologist, and they recommended diltiazem with a dosage twice a day, one in the morning and one in the evening. My blood pressure had been as high as 170/108 at the doctor's office, but was on average 125/90 at home. I was worried about the side effects but switched and have seen no side effects. In fact, my heart palpitations stopped, and my blood pressure is becoming more regulated. I'm now seeing average readings in the evening of as low as 100/70, with an average now of 120/85. I exercise 30-45 minutes a day and also stopped adding salt to my diet. I also eat less meat and intermittent fast - only eating in a 6-hour time period. I also have no side effects such as swelling, dizziness, or fatigue. I strongly recommend this."

• RCi...
• May 3, 2009

Diltiazem "Started this medication over a year ago, and it has helped keep my heartbeat regular. I had an episode where my heart rate was over 200 bpm, and had to go to the ER in an ambulance from my doctor's office. It has not repeated, thank goodness, and I had no side effects from this medication, which I take with Zestril (which I'd been taking for many years before)."