Patient Medication Information: uses, side effects, how to take - Tiazac
What TIAZAC is used for
TIAZAC is used in adults to:
- treat mild to moderate high blood pressure.
- 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. TIAZAC 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 TIAZAC works:
TIAZAC belongs to the group of drugs called “calcium channel blockers” or “calcium antagonists”.
- TIAZAC relaxes the arteries, which allows blood to flow freely through them. This helps to lower blood pressure.
- TIAZAC reduces the amount of oxygen that your heart muscle needs. This helps control chest pain.
The ingredients in TIAZAC are:
Medicinal ingredients: Diltiazem Hydrochloride
Non-medicinal ingredients: Black Iron Oxide, Eudragit, Gelatin, Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, Magnesium Stearate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Polysorbate, Povidone, Simethicone, Sucrose Stearate, Talc, and Titanium Dioxide.
TIAZAC may also contain one or more of the following dyes: FD&C Blue #1, FD&C Red #40, D&C Red #28, FD&C Green #3.
TIAZAC comes in the following dosage forms:
Extended-release capsules: 120 mg, 180 mg, 240 mg, 300 mg and 360 mg.
Do not use TIAZAC if:
- you are allergic to diltiazem or any other ingredients in TIAZAC or its container.
- you have any heart rhythm disorders and do not have a pacemaker.
- you have very low blood pressure (less than 90 mmHg systolic).
- you have a very slow heartbeat (less than 40 beats/minute).
- you have had a heart attack and have fluid in your lungs as a result of heart failure.
- 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 TIAZAC.
- you are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed.
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 take TIAZAC. 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 high blood sugar or diabetes.
- are at risk of developing an intestinal obstruction.
- are 65 years of age or older.
- have a history of heart failure, new shortness of breath, slow heartbeat or low blood pressure. Cases of kidney injury in patients with such conditions have been reported.
- have asthma or other breathing problems. TIAZAC may cause your symptoms to get worse after a dose increase.
Other warnings you should know about:
TIAZAC can cause serious side effects, including:
- Kidney problems: TIAZAC 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): TIAZAC may affect your blood sugar. If you have diabetes, closely monitor your blood sugar while taking TIAZAC 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 TIAZAC. 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 TIAZAC.
- If you take TIAZAC 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 TIAZAC and tell your healthcare professional right away.
Breastfeeding: TIAZAC passes into breast milk and may harm your baby. Do not breastfeed during treatment with TIAZAC. 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 TIAZAC. They will monitor your health during and after treatment.
Checks-up and testing:
You will have regular visits with your healthcare professional while you are taking TIAZAC 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.
- TIAZAC 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 TIAZAC with:
Serious drug interactions with TIAZAC include:
Taking TIAZAC with any of these medicines may cause serious drug interactions. Ask your healthcare professional if you are unsure you are taking these medicines. |
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The following may also interact with TIAZAC:
- 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 TIAZAC 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 or when the dose is increased. Tell your doctor if you experience dizziness, light-headedness, fainting, decreased blood pressure or increased heart rate.
Grapefruit juice
Drinking grapefruit juice while taking TIAZAC may cause headache, irregular heartbeat, edema (swelling), unexplained weight gain, and chest pain. Tell your doctor if this happens to you. Your doctor may recommend that you avoid grapefruit juice while taking TIAZAC.
How to take TIAZAC:
- Take TIAZAC exactly as your healthcare professional tells you.
- TIAZAC is taken once a day at about the same time every day.
- DO NOT chew or crush TIAZAC capsules.
Usual dose:
High Blood Pressure: the usual starting dose is 180 to 240 mg once a day. 120 mg a day may be used in some patients. Maximum dose: 360 mg a day.
Chest Pain (angina): your doctor will decide the best dose for you. The usual starting dose is 120 mg to 180 mg once a day. Your dose may be slowly increased (over 7 to 14 days) up to 360 mg once a day.
Overdose:
Signs of an overdose with TIAZAC 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 TIAZAC, contact a healthcare professional, hospital emergency department, or regional poison control centre immediately, even if there are no symptoms. |
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Missed Dose:
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose as scheduled. Do not take two doses at the same time.
Possible side effects from using TIAZAC:
These are not all the possible side effects you may feel when taking TIAZAC. If you experience any side effects not listed here, tell your healthcare professional.
- Headache, dizziness, malaise;
- Nausea (feeling like vomiting);
- Flushing (facial redness) or feeling unusually warm;
- Rash;
- Temporary swelling;
- Unusual tiredness and weakness;
- Upset stomach or indigestion.
Serious side effects and what to do about them
| Symptom / effect | Talk to your healthcare professional | Stop taking drug and get immediate medical help |
|---|---|---|
| Only if severe | In all cases | |
| COMMON | ||
| Allergic reaction: rash, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, difficulty swallowing or breathing | ||
| √ | ||
Serious side effects and what to do about them
| Symptom / effect | Talk to your healthcare professional | Stop taking drug and get immediate medical help | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Only if severe | In all cases | ||
| 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 of 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, headache, sneezing, fever, generally feeling unwell | √ | ||
| UNCOMMON | |||
| Angina (chest pain): discomfort in the 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 block (a disease in the electrical system of the heart): | √ | ||
Serious side effects and what to do about them
| Symptom / effect | Talk to your healthcare professional | Stop taking drug and get immediate medical help | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Only if severe | In all cases | ||
| light-headedness, fainting, irregular heartbeat | |||
| Heart failure: 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 | √ | ||
| Hyperglycemia: (high blood sugar): increased thirst and hunger, frequent urination, thirst, and hunger headache, blurred vision, fatigue | √ | ||
| RARE | |||
| 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) | √ | ||
| Liver problems: yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, stomach pain or swelling, nausea, vomiting, unusual tiredness | √ | ||
| Severe 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:
NOTE: Contact your health professional if you need information about how to manage your side effects. The Canada Vigilance Program does not provide medical advice. |
Storage:
- Store TIAZAC capsules at room temperature (15-30ºC).
- Avoid excessive humidity.
- Keep out of reach and sight of children.
If you want more information about TIAZAC:
- 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 www.bauschhealth.ca, or by calling 1-800-361-4261.