Tiazac and Impotence

Clinical studies have shown that when treating chest pain with high doses of Tiazac, impotence may occur. However, impotence was not a problem in men who took the medication for high blood pressure or those who used lower Tiazac doses for chest pain. If you are taking Tiazac and impotence becomes a problem, make sure to talk to your healthcare provider about possible treatment options.

Tiazac Drug Information

Tiazac and Impotence: An Overview

Tiazac^® (diltiazem hydrochloride) is a prescription medication known as a calcium channel blocker. It is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) and chest pain (known medically as angina). Like most medicines, side effects that can occur with Tiazac, and impotence may be one of them.

In clinical trials using Tiazac for angina, up to 2 percent of men taking the highest Tiazac dosage (540 mg per day) reported problems with impotence. However, impotence was not reported in men taking a lower dose. Clinical trials using Tiazac for high blood pressure did not show impotence as a side effect of the drug.

What Is Impotence?

Impotence is usually defined as a total inability to achieve an erection, an inconsistent ability to do so, or a tendency to sustain only brief erections. Ultimately, impotence is the repeated inability to get or keep an erection that is firm enough for sexual intercourse. Impotence is also known as erectile dysfunction (or ED for short).

Tiazac and Impotence: What Should You Do?

It is impossible for your healthcare provider to know if you will develop impotence while taking Tiazac.

It may also be difficult to know whether impotence is caused by the medication alone or other factors.

If you are taking Tiazac and impotence becomes a problem, make sure to talk with your healthcare provider. He or she may be able to recommend treatment options. Depending on the severity of your symptoms, your healthcare provider may also recommend that you take an erectile dysfunction medicine, adjust your Tiazac dosage, or try another angina or blood pressure medication.