Diltiazem Drug Interactions (Cont.)

Diltiazem Interactions Explained

The following sections explain in detail the potentially negative interactions that can occur when diltiazem is combined with any of the drugs listed above.
 
Benzodiazepines
Diltiazem can increase the level of certain benzodiazepines in your blood, increasing your risk of side effects. Your healthcare provider may need to decrease your benzodiazepine dose.
 
Beta Blockers
Combining diltiazem with a beta blocker may increase your risk of side effects, especially low blood pressure (hypotension) and a slow heart rate (bradycardia). Your healthcare provider should closely monitor your heart rate and blood pressure if you are taking a beta blocker with diltiazem.
 
Buspirone (Buspar)
Diltiazem can increase the level of buspirone in your blood, increasing your risk of side effects. Your healthcare provider may need to decrease your buspirone dosage.
 
Carbamazepine (Tegretol, Tegretol XR)
Diltiazem can increase the level of carbamazepine in your blood, increasing your risk of side effects. Your healthcare provider may need to decrease your carbamazepine dosage.
 
Cimetidine (Tagamet)
Cimetidine may increase the level of diltiazem in your blood, increasing your risk of diltiazem side effects. Your healthcare provider may need to adjust your diltiazem dose or may suggest an alternative to cimetidine.
 
Cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune)
Diltiazem may increase the level of cyclosporine in your blood, increasing your risk of side effects. Your healthcare provider should monitor your cyclosporine levels and may need to adjust your dosage.
 
Digoxin (Digitek, Lanoxin)
Diltiazem may increase the level of digoxin in your blood (although studies have shown conflicting results). Because changes in digoxin levels can be dangerous, your healthcare provider should monitor the level of digoxin in your blood and adjust your digoxin dosage as necessary. Your healthcare provider should also monitor your heart rate, as diltiazem and digoxin can both lower your heart rate.
(Diltiazem Drug Interactions Continued: Page 3)

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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;