The name of your medicine is Chemmart Diltiazem CD. It contains the active ingredient diltiazem hydrochloride.
Diltiazem belongs to a group of medicines known as calcium channel blockers or calcium antagonists.
The capsules are designed to release the active ingredient over 24 hours and can be taken once a day (CD stands for "controlled delivery").
These medicines 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.
The capsules are used by some people to treat hypertension (high blood pressure), by others to prevent angina and by some people to treat both of these conditions at the same time.
Angina:
Angina is a pain or uncomfortable feeling in the chest, often spreading to the arms and neck, and sometimes the shoulders and back. This may be caused by not enough blood and oxygen getting to the heart. Angina is usually brought on by exercise or stress.
Hypertension:
Everyone has blood pressure. This pressure helps move your blood around your body. Your blood pressure may be different at different times of the day, depending on how busy or worried you are. You have hypertension (high blood pressure) when your blood pressure stays higher than is needed, even when you are calm and relaxed.
There are usually no symptoms of hypertension. The only way of knowing that you have hypertension is to have your blood pressure checked on a regular basis. You may feel fine and have no symptoms, but if high blood pressure is not treated, it can lead to serious health problems.
Your doctor may have prescribed this medicine for another reason.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why this product has been prescribed for you.
There is no evidence that diltiazem is addictive.
This medicine is available only with a doctor's prescription.
There is not enough information to recommend the use of this medicine in children.
Do not take diltiazem if you have had an allergy to:
Symptoms of an allergic reaction to diltiazem may include:
Do not take this medicine if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering or if the capsules show visible signs of deterioration.
Do not take this medicine after the expiry date (EXP) printed on the pack.
If you take this medicine after the expiry date has passed, it may not work as well.
Do not give this medicine to a child unless directed by your child's doctor.
The safety and efficacy of diltiazem in children have not been established and therefore is not recommended.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to any other medicines, foods, dyes or preservatives.
Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had any other health problems / medical conditions, including:
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are pregnant, intend to become pregnant, are breast-feeding or plan to breast-feed.
Diltiazem passes into breast milk. There is a possibility that the breast-fed baby may be affected and therefore you must not breastfeed.
If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell them before you start taking this medicine.
If you are 65 years or older, you should be especially careful while taking diltiazem. Report any side effects promptly to your doctor. As people grow older, they are more likely to get side effects from medicines.
Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including medicines that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop. Some medicines may interfere with diltiazem.
These include:
Some medicines may affect the way others work. Your doctor or pharmacist will be able to tell you what to do when taking diltiazem with other medicines.
The capsules should be taken once a day, preferably at the same time every day. Your doctor will tell you how often and how much to take.
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor or pharmacist carefully.
They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.
If you do not understand the instructions on the label, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.
Swallow the capsules with a full glass of water. Do not chew the capsules.
Take the capsules at about the same time each day.
Taking this medicine at the same time each day will have the best effect. It will also help you remember when to take your medicine.
It does not matter if you take the capsules before or after food.
Your medicine helps control your angina and/or blood pressure but do not cure it. Therefore the capsules must be taken every day. Continue taking the capsules for as long as your doctor tells you to.
Do not stop taking the capsules without first checking with your doctor.
If you are taking this medicine for angina, your doctor may wish to gradually reduce the amount of medicine you are taking before stopping completely. This may help reduce the chance of your angina worsening.
If 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 it as you would normally.
Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose that you missed.
This may increase the chance of you getting an unwanted side effect.
If you have trouble remembering when to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some hints.
If you are not sure what to do, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Immediately telephone your doctor or Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26), or go to the Accident & Emergency department at your nearest hospital, if you think you or anyone else may have taken too much diltiazem.
Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
You may need urgent medical attention. Keep these telephone numbers handy.
Symptoms of an overdose may include dizziness, a slow or irregular heart beat or pain in the left arm and chest.
Be sure to keep all of your doctor's appointments so that your progress can be checked.
If you become pregnant while you are taking diltiazem, tell your doctor immediately.
If you plan to have surgery that needs a general anaesthetic, tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking diltiazem.
Your blood pressure may drop suddenly.
If you are about to be started on any new medicines, tell your doctor or pharmacist that you are taking diltiazem CD.
Tell any other doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you are taking diltiazem.
Do not stop taking your medicine, or lower the dosage, without checking with your doctor.
If you are taking this medicine for angina, stopping the capsules suddenly may bring on an angina attack. Your doctor may want you to gradually reduce the amount of diltiazem you are taking before stopping completely.
Do not give your medicine to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.
Do not use your medicine to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you to.
As with other calcium channel blocker medicines, diltiazem may cause dizziness or light-headedness in some people.
Make sure you know how you react to Chemmart Diltiazem CD before you drive a car, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are dizzy or light-headed.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking your medicine.
Chemmart Diltiazem CD helps most people with angina or high blood pressure, but it may have unwanted side effects in a few people. If you are over 65 years of age you may have an increased chance of getting side effects.
All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, 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 to answer any questions you may have.
Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
These side effects are usually mild.
Tell your doctor immediately, or go to Accident & Emergency at your nearest hospital if you notice any of the following:
These may be serious side effects. You may need medical attention. Serious side effects are rare.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects.
You may not experience any of them.
Keep your medicine in the pack until it is time to take it.
If you take your medicine out of the pack, it may not keep well
Keep your capsules in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 25 degrees C.
Do not store any medicines in the bathroom or near a sink.
Do not leave them in the car or on windowsills.
Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Keep your medicines where children cannot reach them.
A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
If your doctor tells you to stop taking this medicine, or the expiry date has passed, ask your pharmacist what to do with any that are left over.
Pharmaceutical companies are not in a position to give people an individual diagnosis or medical advice. Your doctor or pharmacist is the best person to give you advice on the treatment of your condition.
The 180 mg capsules are light turquoise blue and light blue opaque capsules. "APO 180" is printed on them in white ink.
The 240 mg capsules are light blue capsules. "APO 240" is printed on them in white ink.
The capsules are available in bottles of 30 capsules.
The capsules contain:
Active ingredient:
Diltiazem hydrochloride 180 mg or 240 mg.
Other inactive ingredients:
Chemmart Diltiazem CD capsules do not contain lactose, sucrose, gluten or tartrazine.
Chemmart Diltiazem CD 180 mg capsules (bottles):
AUST R 90919
Chemmart Diltiazem CD 240 mg capsules (bottles):
AUST R 90923