Cardizem

Cardizem is a prescription medication used to control chest pain and treats high blood pressure

Cardizem belongs to a group of drugs called calcium channel blockers. These work by relaxing the blood vessels so the heart does not need to work as hard. Calcium channel blockers also increase the supply of blood and oxygen to the heart.

This medication comes in tablet form. Cardizem is usually taken 3 or 4 times a day, depending on what is being treated. 

Common side effects of Cardizem include headache, flushing, slow heartbeat, and nausea.

Cardizem can also cause dizziness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how Cardizem affects you.

Cardizem is a prescription medication used to control chest pain and treats high blood pressure.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

• Valeant Pharmaceuticals North America LLC

Serious side effects have been reported with Cardizem. See the “Cardizem Precautions” section.

Common side effects of Cardizem include the following:

• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Edema
• Flushing
• Headache
• Nausea
• Weakness
• Slow heartbeat
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Nasal congestion
• Cough
• Rash

This is not a complete list of Cardizem side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• Benzodiazepines such as
  • Midazolam (Versed)
  • Triazolam (Halcion)
• Beta blockers such as
  • Atenolol (Tenormin)
  • Metoprolol (Toprol XL, Lopressor)
  • Carvedilol (Coreg)
  • Bisoprolol (Zebeta)
  • Betaxolol (Kerlone)
  • Nebivolol (Bystolic)
  • Propranolol (Inderal)
  • Labetalol (Trandate)
  • Nadolol (Corgard)
• Buspirone (Buspar)
• Carbamazepine (Tegretol)
• Cimetidine (Tagamet)
• Cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune)
• Digoxin (Lanoxin)
• Statins such as
  • Lovastatin (Altoprev, Mevacor)
  • Simvastatin (Zocor)
• Quinidine
• Rifampin
• Clonidine (Catapres)

This is not a complete list of Cardizem drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Cardizem can cause dizziness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how Cardizem affects you.

Do not take Cardizem if you:

• are allergic to Cardizem or to any of its ingredients
• have sick sinus syndrome, except if you have a functioning  ventricular pacemaker
• have second- or third-degree Av block, except if you have a functioning ventricular pacemaker
• have low blood pressure (less than 90 mmHg systolic)
• have acute myocardial infarction (also called a heart attack)
• have pulmonary congestion 

Medications can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of Cardizem, there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving this medication.

Before taking Cardizem, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Especially tell your doctor if you:

• are allergic to Cardizem or to any of its ingredients
• have or have had a myocardial infarction (heart attack)
• have or have had a blockage or condition of your digestive system that causes food to move through your digestive system slowly
• have or have had low blood pressure
• have or have had liver disease
• have or have had kidney disease
• have or have had heart disease or heart failure
• are pregnant or breastfeeding

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Cardizem falls into category C. No well-controlled studies have been done in humans. Therefore, this medication may be used if the potential benefits to the mother outweigh the potential risks to the unborn child.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

Cardizem has been detected in human breast milk. Because of the possibility for adverse reactions in nursing infants from Cardizem, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or to stop use of this medication. 

Take Cardizem exactly as prescribed.

This medication comes in tablet form. Cardizem is usually taken 3 or 4 times a day, depending on what is being treated. 

• If treating high blood pressure, Cardizem is typically taken 3 or 4 times per day. 
• If treating chest pain, Cardizem is typically taken 4 times a day, before meals and at bedtime. 

If you miss a dose, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take two doses of Cardizem at the same time.

Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.

The dose your doctor recommends may be based on the following:

• the condition being treated
• other medical conditions you have
• other medications you are taking
• how you respond to this medication

The usual starting dose of Cardizem for controlling chest pain is 30 mg 4 times per day. 

The usual starting dose of Cardizem for treating high blood pressure is 30 mg 3 or 4 times per day. 

Your doctor will adjust the dose of Cardizem to your needs. The dose may be increased slowly over time until treatment goals are achieved.

If you take too much Cardizem, call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center, or seek emergency medical attention right away.

If Cardizem is administered by a healthcare provider in a medical setting, it is unlikely that an overdose will occur. However, if overdose is suspected, seek emergency medical attention.

• Store Cardizem at room temperature.
• Avoid excessive humidity.
• Keep this and all medicines out of the reach of children.