Diltiazem and Constipation: What Users Say

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

For High Blood Pressure "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."

• Bul...
• March 24, 2016

Diltiazem for High Blood Pressure "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."

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

For High Blood Pressure "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."

• gre...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 26, 2020

For Supraventricular Tachycardia "I was diagnosed with SVT about 7 months ago. I was initially put on atenolol but switched over due to it causing weight gain and constipation. The diltiazem has been fine, but I still get a couple of short episodes. Before medication, they used to last 30+ minutes and my heart would race to 200 bpm. Now that I'm on medication, I've had two episodes that lasted 30 seconds at most. Today, I just had an episode that lasted 15 minutes, but it was not as intense as it used to be. I'm considering the ablation, just because it's inconvenient to have this happen while I'm at work. However, I've been told that if I had an episode on diltiazem, I can take another pill to stop it."

• RSo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 7, 2018

For Supraventricular Tachycardia "I've been taking this medication for 3 days now. It does lower my blood pressure, but when I first take it, my blood pressure goes up about 30 points. Gives me terrible anxiety, and I break out into supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). The first day I took it, I had a massive headache. I have terrible constipation as well. Short of breath, and my bones ache, which has never been the case before, ever. I'm afraid to drive because I feel very light-headed and dizzy. I wish there was a better medication for this condition because this does not feel good."

• BPd...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 12, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "I took this drug diltiazem for about 10 days, it was working well until day 6, when it started to tighten my stomach and cause a feeling of bloating and constipation. Just in time for a 4-hour plane flight too! Not comfortable. I had to quit taking it due to this feeling, I've had 5 stomach surgeries due to ruptured appendix complications, so being bloated and constipated isn't especially fun for me. Too bad since the drug otherwise was working well, I had improved energy and could stay awake longer than with the beta blocker I had been on, and my sex drive had returned also! So quitting it was disappointing, I have so many bad side effects from many of these BP drugs. So back on the Bisoprolol I go, even though I feel like a 90-year-old man on it and basically castrated! May get my doc to prescribe Diovan for me next month, unless he has a remedy for this stomach tightness/bloating that diltiazem had given me."

• Sue...
• June 13, 2020

For Supraventricular Tachycardia "Diltiazem ER worked great for PVCs. I learned quickly that it requires a good bowel regimen. It resolved the constipation and bloating. Ask your doctor what the best regimen is for you. I need to use more than the normal Senna dose."

• Nvm...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 29, 2022

For Atrial Flutter "Atrial fibrillation started after taking the drug Atacand years ago. Currently, the doctor gave me a beta blocker, Atenolol, and being a diabetic, I swelled up with water and had an ulcer on my foot. I also have been on Diltiazem 185, 2x a day for years. I had 4 virtual visits with my doctor’s office and still never changed the Diltiazem as I requested. He changed the Atenolol for Corg. Then they tell me to take just the Corg with no Diltiazem, I nearly died, everything dropped down low. So I went to a new doctor, a doctor for the electrical part of my heart. The EKG they did showed I was in afib, he did nothing. I’m still on Diltiazem, and this drug is killing me. My heart doesn’t even beat normally anymore, my pulse is up and down, my blood pressure is okay. But I feel HORRIBLE, and here in Michigan, where is a good doctor? I have constant indigestion, constipation, pulse fluttering, edema in my feet, and lymphoma in my calves. Does anyone know where I can find a caring heart doctor in Michigan?"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 16, 2014

For High Blood Pressure "Dropped the blood pressure from 150/110 to 90/60 in 4 days, but the fatigue, constipation, and just an unwell feeling have made me stop this medicine."