Diltiazem hydrochloride
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about Diltahexal CD capsules. It does not contain all the available information.
It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you taking these medicines against the benefits they expect it will have for you.
Keep this leaflet with the medicine. You may need to read it again.
What this medicine is used for
You have been prescribed Diltahexal CD capsules. This medicine contains an active ingredient called diltiazem hydrochloride. Diltahexal CD is designed to release the active ingredient slowly so that it works over 24 hours and can be taken once a day (CD stands for “controlled delivery”).
This medicine belongs to a group of medicines called calcium channel blockers or calcium antagonists. They work by opening up blood vessels, which lowers blood pressure and lets more blood and oxygen reach the heart. They do not change the amount of calcium in your blood or bones.
Diltahexal CD capsules are used to prevent angina or to treat hypertension (high blood pressure).
Angina is a pain or uncomfortable sensation in the chest, often spreading to the arms or neck and sometimes to the shoulders and back. The pain of angina is due to a shortage of oxygen to the heart.
High blood pressure can have many different causes including kidney disease, hardening of the arteries and some hormone imbalances. However, the vast majority of people with high blood pressure have no identifiable cause for it. If left untreated, high blood pressure can lead to serious health problems such as a stroke or heart attack.
Your doctor may have prescribed this medicine for another reason. Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why this medicine has been prescribed for you.
There is no evidence that this medicine is addictive.
This medicine is available only with a doctor’s prescription.
Before you take this medicine
When you must not take them:
Do not take this medicine:
- If you have an allergy to:
Diltiazem hydrochloride or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet
Symptoms of an allergic reaction to these medicines may include:
- asthma, wheezing or shortness of breath
- swelling of the face, lips or tongue, which may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing
- hives, itching or skin rash
- fainting
- If you are pregnant, or intend to become pregnant.
This medicine may affect your developing baby if they are taken during pregnancy. - If you are breastfeeding or intend to breastfeed.
The active ingredient of this medicine passes into breast milk and may affect your baby. - If the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering or if capsules do not look quite right.
- If the expiry date (EXP) printed on the pack has passed.
If you take this medicine after the expiry date has passed, it may not work as well.
If you are not sure whether you should start taking this medicine, contact your doctor.
Do not give this medicine to a child. The safety and effectiveness of this medicine has not been established in children.
Before you start to take it
Tell your doctor:
- If you have any allergies to:
- any other medicines
- any other substances, such as foods, preservatives or dyes
- If you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant.
Diltahexal CD capsules should not be used during pregnancy. - If you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.
Your doctor will discuss this situation with you. A decision will have to be made whether to discontinue breastfeeding or discontinue therapy taking into consideration the importance of the medicine. - if you have or have had any medical conditions, especially the following:
- Abnormal heart beat rhythm
- Hypotension (low blood pressure)
- Heart attack or other heart-related complications
- Impaired renal (kidney) or hepatic (liver) function
- Diabetes
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines may interfere with Diltahexal CD capsules. These include:
- Dantrolene (a muscle relaxant)
- Some other medicines for your heart or high blood pressure (eg. beta blockers, digoxin, amiodarone, nitrates)
- Cyclosporin which you may have been given after an operation or because of rheumatoid arthritis
- Rifampicin (an antibiotic)
- Cimetidine or ranitidine (for ulcers or reflux)
- Diazepam (for depression, alcohol withdrawal or anxiety)
- Carbamazepine (for bipolar disorder or epilepsy)
- Lithium (for bipolar disorder)
- Theophylline (for asthma and other breathing problems)
- Certain drugs used to treat prostate problems
- Inhaled anaesthetic agents such as halothane, isoflurane, enflurane (for surgery)
- Drugs used to lower your blood cholesterol (including simvastatin, lovastatin)
- Benzodiazepines or medicines used as sedatives or to treat anxiety such as midazolam, triazolam
- Corticosteroids such as methylprednisolone, prednisone, cortisone
- Antiarrhythmics or medicines used to treat irregular heart beats
Diltahexal CD capsules may themselves be affected, or they may affect how well these medicines work. You may need to take different amounts of your medicine, or you may need to take different medicines. Your doctor will advise you.
Your doctor and pharmacist may have more information on medicines to be careful with or to avoid while taking Diltahexal CD capsules.
How to take this medicine
How much to take
Diltahexal CD capsules can be taken once a day, preferably at the same time every day. Your doctor will tell you how often and how much Diltahexal CD to take. Follow all directions given to you by your doctor and pharmacist carefully. Write them down if necessary.
If you do not understand the instructions on the packaging of these medicines, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.
How to take it
Swallow the capsules with a glass of water. Do not chew them.
When to take it
Take this medicine at the same time every day.
How long to take it
If you are not sure how long to take your medicine, talk to your doctor.
If you forget to take it
If you are taking this medicine for angina, do not suddenly stop taking it since this can cause severe angina for a day or two.
If you forget to take a dose and it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to. Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember, and then go back to taking your capsules as you would normally.
Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose that you missed.
If you have trouble remembering to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some hints.
If you take too much (overdose)
If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, immediately telephone your doctor or Poisons Information Centre (Australia telephone 13 11 26, New Zealand telephone 0800 764766), or go to the Accident and Emergency Department at your nearest hospital.
If you take too much of this medicine, you may:
- feel continuously light headed or dizzy
- notice your heart beating very slowly
- feel pain, which could be severe, in your left arm and chest.
If any of these occur, you should get medical attention immediately.
While you are using this medicine
Things you must do
Take this medicine exactly as your doctor has prescribed. If you do not follow your doctor’s instructions, you may not get relief from your attacks of angina, or your blood pressure may not be as well controlled as it could be.
If you are taking this medicine for angina, tell your doctor if you continue to have angina attacks or if they become more frequent.
Tell all your doctors, dentists and pharmacists that you are taking this medicine.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist that you are taking Diltahexal CD capsules if you are about to be started on any new medicine.
Things you must not do
Do not use this medicine to treat any other complaints unless your doctor says to.
Do not give this medicine to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.
As mentioned previously, if you are taking this medicine for angina, do not suddenly stop taking your medicine since this can cause severe angina for a day or two.
Things to be careful of
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how this medicine affects you. This medicine may cause dizziness and fainting in some patients, especially when you first start to use them. Make sure you know how you react to these medicines before you drive a car, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous if this happens to you.
Be careful not to overdo physical activities when you first start using this medicine. You may feel better when you start taking this medicine, but you will need time to improve your physical fitness.
Get up slowly when getting out of bed or standing up if you feel lightheaded, dizzy or faint. If this is a problem and it gets worse or continues, talk to your doctor.
Side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are using this medicine. This medicine helps most people with angina, and Diltahexal CD will help control most people’s blood pressure, but it may have unwanted effects in a few people.
All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, but most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist any questions you may have.
Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
- swelling or flushing (feeling hot suddenly)
- headache
- nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhoea, indigestion, gastric pain
- dizziness
- confusion, hallucinations, abnormal dreams, mental depression or mood changes
- trouble sleeping
- nervousness, tremor
- ringing or other persistent noise in the ears
- loss of memory
- dry mouth
- loss of appetite
- weight increase
- increased sensitivity to the sun
- unusual movements or uncontrollable movements
- rash or an itchy, burning or prickly sensation
- small round, raised itchy areas on the skin
- weakness or tiredness
These side effects are usually mild.
Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following:
- you feel continuously lightheaded or dizzy
- you notice your heart beating irregularly, slowly or very quickly
- you feel pain, which may be severe, in your left arm and chest
- you have blisters and bleeding in the lips, eyes, mouth, nose or genitals
- you have skin reactions such as red, painful or itchy spots, blisters or peeling of the skin.
These are serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention. Serious side effects are rare.
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. Tell your doctor if you notice anything else that is making you feel unwell.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you do not understand anything in this section.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not experience any of them.
After taking these medicines
Storage
Keep this medicine in its container until it is time to take it. If you take the medicine out of its container it may not keep well.
Keep this medicine in a cool, dry place where it stays below 25°C. Do not store it, or any other medicine, in a bathroom or near a sink. Do not leave them in the car or on a windowsill. Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Keep this medicine where young children cannot reach it. A locked cupboard at least one-and-a half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
Disposal
If your doctor tells you to stop taking your Diltahexal CD medication, or it has passed its expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any capsules that are left over.
Product description
What your medicine looks like
Diltahexal CD are available in bottles of 30 capsules.
All doses (180 mg, 240 mg and 360 mg) are two component capsules:
- The 180 mg capsules are blue and light turquoise
- The 240 mg capsules are blue/blue
- The 360 mg capsules are white and light blue
Ingredients
Diltahexal CD 180 and 240 mg capsules contain:
Diltiazem hydrochloride 180 mg or 240 mg, fumaric acid, purified talc, nonpareil seeds (sucrose), colloidal silica, white beeswax, ethylcellulose, castor oil, stearic acid, methacrylic acid copolymers, tributyl acetylcitrate, simethicone, gelatin, Brilliant Blue FCF CI 42090 and titanium dioxide.
Diltahexal CD 360mg capsules contain:
Diltiazem hydrochloride 360mg, non-pareil seed (sucrose), povidone, sodium lauryl sulfate, diethyl pthalate, purified talc, methacrylic acid copolymers, tributyl acetylcitrate, simethicone, titanium dioxide, Brilliant Blue FCFand gelatin.
Supplier
Diltahexal CD capsules are supplied by:
Sandoz Pty Ltd
100 Harris Street
Pyrmont
NSW 2009
Australia
Australian Registration Numbers:
180 mg: AUST R 131298
240 mg: AUST R 131300
360mg: AUST R 131304
Date of Preparation:
August 2009.
Published by MIMS January 2010
