Patient Medication Information: uses, side effects, how to take - AA-Diltiaz
What AA-DILTIAZ is used for:
AA-DILTIAZ is used for:
- the management of angina resulting from coronary artery spasm.
- control chest pain that most often occurs with physical activity or emotional stress (chronic stable angina). It can be used with other chest pain medicines when those medicines do not provide enough benefit on their own. AA-DILTIAZ is normally used in patients who have tried other treatments for their chest pain, but did not receive benefits, or had bad side effects.
How AA-DILTIAZ works:
AA-DILTIAZ belongs to a group of medicines called “calcium channel blockers” or “calcium antagonists”.
AA-DILTIAZ relaxes the arteries, which allows blood to flow freely through them. This helps lowering blood pressure.
AA-DILTIAZ reduces the amount of oxygen that your heart muscle needs. This helps control chest pain.
The ingredients in AA-DILTIAZ are:
Medicinal ingredients: Diltiazem Hydrochloride.
Non-medicinal ingredients: Carnauba wax, colloidal silicon dioxide, D&C yellow #10, FD&C blue #1 (30 mg tablet only), FD&C yellow #6 (60 mg tablet only), hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, lactose, magnesium stearate, polyethylene glycol and titanium dioxide.
AA-DILTIAZ comes in the following dosage forms:
- Tablets: 30 mg and 60 mg.
Do not use AA-DILTIAZ if:
- you are allergic to diltiazem or any other ingredients in AA-DILTIAZ or its container.
- you have any heart rhythm disorders and do not have a pacemaker.
- You are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
- You are a woman of child-bearing potential, unless you and your healthcare professional have decided you should take AA-DILTIAZ.
- You are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed.
- You have very low blood pressure (less than 90 mmHg systolic).
- You have very slow heartbeat (less than 40 beats/minute).
- You have severe heart failure with fluid in the lungs.
- You have had a heart attack and have fluid in your lungs as a result of heart failure.
You are taking the following medicines:
- dantrolene, used to treat severe muscle spasms or severe fever.
- ivabradine, used to treat heart failure.
- lomitapide mesylate, used to treat high blood cholesterol.
To help avoid side effects and ensure proper use, talk to your healthcare professional before you receive AA-DILTIAZ. Talk about any health conditions or problems you may have, including if you:
- have heart, liver, or kidney disease.
- had a recent heart attack.
- have a history of heart failure.
- are at risk of developing an intestinal obstruction (Blockage).
- have asthma or other breathing problems. AA-DILTIAZ may cause your symptoms to get worse, especially after a dose increase.
- have high blood sugar or diabetes.
- are 65 years of age or older.
are lactose intolerant or have one of the following rare hereditary diseases:
- Galactose intolerance
- Lapp lactase deficiency
- Glucose-galactose malabsorption
Because lactose is a non-medicinal ingredient in AA-DILTIAZ.
Other warnings you should know about:
AA-DILTIAZ can cause serious side effects, including:
- Kidney problems: AA-DILTIAZ can cause kidney problems, even at prescribed doses. You are at higher risk if you have heart failure, a very slow heartbeat or very low blood pressure.
- Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar): AA-DILTIAZ may affect your blood sugar. If you have diabetes, closely monitor your blood sugar while taking AA-DILTIAZ and report any unusual results to your healthcare professional.
See the Serious side effects and what to do about them table for more information on these and other serious side effects.
Surgery: Tell any doctor, dentist, pharmacist, or healthcare professional that you see, that you are taking this medicine. This is especially important if you are planning to have surgery (including dental procedures).
Pregnancy:
- Avoid becoming pregnant while you are taking AA-DILTIAZ. If you are able to get pregnant, you should use effective birth control (contraception) during your treatment. Talk to your healthcare professional about the best kind of birth control to use while you are taking AA-DILTIAZ.
- If you take AA-DILTIAZ during pregnancy, it may harm your unborn baby. Your healthcare professional will discuss the risks with you.
- If you discover that you are pregnant, stop taking AA-DILTIAZ and tell your healthcare professional right away.
Breastfeeding: AA-DILTIAZ passes into breast milk and may harm your baby. Do not breastfeed during treatment with AA-DILTIAZ. Talk to your healthcare professional about ways to feed your baby during this time.
Adults (65 years of age or older): Side effects like swelling of the arms or legs, irregular heartbeat, dizziness, skin rash and frequent urination may happen more often. Your healthcare professional might adjust your dose of AA-DILTIAZ. They will monitor your health during and after treatment.
Check-ups and testing:
You will have regular visits with your healthcare professional while you are taking AA-DILTIAZ to monitor your health. They will:
- Do blood and urine tests to check your liver and kidney health and the level of sugar in your blood.
- Check your lungs and verify if you have any breathing problems.
AA-DILTIAZ can cause abnormal blood test results. Your healthcare professional
- will decide when to perform blood tests and will interpret the results.
Tell your healthcare professional about all the medicines you take, including any drugs, vitamins, minerals, natural supplements, or alternative medicines.
Serious Drug Interactions
Do not take AA-DILTIAZ with:
- dantrolene, used to treat severe muscle spasms or severe fever.
- ivabradine, used to treat heart failure.
- lomitapide mesylate, used to treat high blood cholesterol.
Serious drug interactions with AA-DILTIAZ include:
- medicines used to prevent and treat blood clots (Direct Oral Anticoagulants (DOACs)) such as dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban.
Taking AA-DILTIAZ with any of these medicines may cause serious drug interactions. Ask your healthcare professional if you are unsure, you are taking these medicines.
The following may also interact with AA-DILTIAZ:
- medicines used to treat fungal infections with a name ending in azole.
- medicines used to treat bacterial infections, such as rifampin, erythromycin, clarithromycin.
- medicines used to treat high blood pressure, such as alpha antagonists, beta-blockers.
- heart medications such as Amiodarone, digoxin, digitalis, flecainide, nifedipine, propafenone, quinidine, verapamil.
- medicines used to treat chest pain (angina), such as short or long acting nitrates.
- medicines used to control seizures, such as carbamazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital.
- medicines used to lower blood cholesterol, such as “statins”.
- medicines used to reduce stomach acid and treat ulcers in the stomach or intestines, such as cimetidine, ranitidine.
- medicines used to treat inflammation, such as corticosteroids (including methylprednisolone).
- acetylsalicylic acid (ASA, or ASPIRIN) or medicines used to prevent blood clots, such as ticagrelor, cilostazol, clopidogrel, dipyridamole, ticlopidine, warfarin.
- sleeping pills, such as benzodiazepines (midazolam, triazolam).
- anesthetics.
- cyclosporine, used to control the immune system.
- lithium, used to treat bipolar disorder.
- imipramine, used to treat depression.
- theophylline, used to treat asthma or other lung diseases.
- terfenadine, used to treat allergies.
- ritonavir, used to treat HIV/AIDS.
- products that contain calcium such as multivitamins with minerals.
- X-ray contrast agents.
Alcohol
Drinking alcohol while taking AA-DILTIAZ may cause low blood pressure and dizziness when you go from lying or sitting to standing up. This is more likely to occur after the first dose and when the dose is increased. Tell your healthcare professional if you experience dizziness, light-headedness, fainting, decreased blood pressure or increased heart rate.
Grapefruit juice
Drinking grapefruit juice while taking AA-DILTIAZ may cause headache, irregular heartbeat, edema (swelling), unexplained weight gain, and chest pain. Tell your healthcare professional if this happens to you. Your healthcare professional may recommend that you avoid grapefruit juice while taking AA-DILTIAZ .
How to take AA-DILTIAZ:
Your dose is tailored / personalized just for you.
- Take AA-DILTIAZ exactly as your healthcare professional tells you.
Usual dose:
If you have Chronic Stable Angina or Vasospastic Angina:
Adult Dose:
Usual starting dose: Take a 30 mg tablet 4 times a day, before your meals and at bedtime. Your healthcare professional may increase your dose if needed. Do NOT chew or crush the tablet.
If you have Unstable Angina Pectoris and are in the Intensive Care Unit:
Adult Dose:
Your healthcare professional will determine your dose and how often you will be given it.
Overdose:
Signs of overdose with AA-DILTIAZ include:
- Very slow or irregular heartbeat.
- Very low blood pressure.
- Kidney problems
- Heart does not pump blood as well as it should or suddenly stops beating
If you think you, or a person you are caring for, have taken too much AA-DILTIAZ, contact a healthcare professional, hospital emergency department, regional poison control centre or Health Canada’s toll-free number, 1-844 POISON-X (1-844-764-7669) immediately, even if there are no signs or symptoms.
Missed Dose:
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose as scheduled. Do not take two doses at once to make-up for a missed dose.
Possible side effects from using AA-DILTIAZ:
These are not all the possible side effects you may have when taking AA-DILTIAZ. If you experience any side effects not listed here, tell your healthcare professional.
Side effects may include:
- Headache, dizziness, malaise.
- Nausea (feeling like vomiting).
- Flushing (facial redness) or feeling unusually warm.
- Unusual tiredness and weakness.
- Upset stomach or indigestion
Serious side effects and what to do about them
| Serious side effects and what to do about them | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Serious side effects and what to do about them | |||
| Symptom / effect | Talk to your healthcare professional | Stop taking drug and get immediate medical help | |
| Symptom / effect | Talk to your healthcare professional | Stop taking drug and get immediate medical help | |
| Symptom / effect | Talk to your healthcare professional | Stop taking drug and get immediate medical help | |
| Only if severe | In all cases | ||
| Only if severe | In all cases | ||
| Only if severe | In all cases | ||
| COMMON | |||
| Allergic Reaction: rash, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, difficulty swallowing or breathing | √ | ||
| Fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat | √ | ||
| Hypotension (Low Blood Pressure): dizziness, fainting, light- headedness, blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, fatigue (May occur when you go from lying or sitting to standing up). | √ | ||
| Peripheral edema (swelling the legs or hands): swollen or puffy legs, ankles, or hands, feeling heavy, achy or stiff | √ | ||
| Respiratory tract infection: (a cold): runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, cough, sinus congestion, body aches, headaches, sneezing, fever, generally feeling unwell | √ | ||
| UNCOMMON | |||
| Angina (chest pain): discomfort in shoulder, arm, back, throat, jaw, or teeth; pain or pressure in the chest | √ | ||
| Depression: (sad mood that won’t go away): difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much, changes in appetite or weight, feelings of worthlessness, guilt, regret, helplessness or hopelessness, withdrawal from social situations, family, gatherings and activities with friends, reduced libido (sex drive) and thoughts of death or suicide. If you have a history of depression, your depression may become worse | √ | ||
Eye Problems: blurred vision, loss of vision in the eye, increased sensitivity of the eyes to light, eye pain or redness, swelling and itching of the eyelids | √ | ||
| Heart Failure (heart does not pump blood as well as it should): shortness of breath, fatigue and weakness, leg swelling in legs, ankles and feet, cough, lack of appetite, nausea, rapid or irregular heartbeat, reduced ability to exercise | √ | ||
| Heart block: (A disease in the | √ | ||
| electrical system of the heart): lightheaded ness, fainting and irregular heartbeat. | |||
| Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar): increased thirst and hunger, frequent urination, thirst, and hunger headache, blurred vision, fatigue | √ | ||
| RARE | |||
| Liver problems: yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, stomach pain or swelling, nausea, vomiting, unusual tiredness | √ | ||
| Kidney problems: nausea, vomiting, fever, swelling of extremities, fatigue, thirst, dry skin, irritability, dark urine, increased or decreased urine output, blood in the urine, rash, weight gain (from retaining fluid), loss of appetite, abnormal blood test results, mental status changes (drowsiness, confusion, coma) | √ | ||
| Serious Skin Reactions: fever, severe rash, swollen lymph glands, flu-like feeling, blisters and peeling skin that may start in and around the mouth, nose, eyes and genitals and spread to other areas of the body, yellow skin or eyes, shortness of breath, dry cough, chest pain or discomfort, feeling thirsty, urinating less often, less urine | √ | ||
If you have a troublesome symptom or side effect that is not listed here or becomes bad enough to interfere with your daily activities, tell your healthcare professional.
Reporting Side Effects
You can report any suspected side effects associated with the use of health products to Health Canada by:
- Visiting the Web page on Adverse Reaction Reporting (canada.ca/drug-device-reporting) for information on how to report online, by mail or by fax; or
- Calling toll-free at 1-866-234-2345.
NOTE: Contact your healthcare professional if you need information about how to manage your side effects. The Canada Vigilance Program does not provide medical advice.
Storage:
Store at room temperature 15°C - 30°C.
Keep out of reach and sight of children.
If you want more information about AA-DILTIAZ:
- Talk to your healthcare professional
- Find the full product monograph that is prepared for healthcare professionals and includes this Patient Medication Information by visiting the Health Canada website: (https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/drug-products/drug-product-database.html); the manufacturer’s website (https://www.aapharma.ca/en/), or by calling 1-877-998-9097.