Cardizem CD

What is Cardizem CD

Cardizem CD is a medication that is used to treat high blood pressure and the treatment of chest pain.

How does Cardizem CD work

Cardizem CD works by helping the body's blood vessels dilate. This allows blood flow to get to the heart and slows down the patient's blood pressure. This can give the patient a lot of chest comfort. Many patients who have heart blockages or clogged blood vessels experience chest pain and angina. If their blood vessels can be made to work properly then they have a better chance of eliminating their symptoms. As people get older, their blood vessels can become thinner and more narrow so the medication helps the vessels to stay working properly so that blockages can be avoided.

How and When to take Cardizem CD

Cardizem CD is taken daily and the medication comes in a capsule form. The medication needs to be taken with food, preferably before a meal. This is because taking medication on an empty stomach can cause nausea and stomach upset. The medication needs to be swallowed whole by the patient for the drug to give its desired effect. Some patients decide to take the medication in applesauce because it makes the pill much easier to swallow. If the taste is too tart then the patient should wash the medication and applesauce down with an eight ounce glass of water. This will help the medication get into the blood stream much faster. People who forget to take the medication should just take the regular dosage as prescribed. Taking too much of the medication can have negative effects on the body and can decrease the heart rate.

Side Effects

Some of the side effects that consumers experienced after taking Cardizem CD include the following: dizziness, fatigue, sleepiness, abnormal heart beat, rash, headache, nausea, stomach aches, rash, water and fluid retention, and weakness in the body. Taking Cardizem CD with other medications such as beat blockers can produce a deadly drug interaction. Doctors need to be aware of all medications that the patient is taking so that the medication dosage can be adjusted accordingly. Patients who decide to take Cardizem CD are instructed to take their pulse regularly because the heartbeat can slow down too much. People who have liver issues and have other heart issues are instructed to use the drug with caution. Patients are also instructed to make their doctors aware of any side effects that they suffer from.

Other brand names for Cardizem CD include the following:

• Dilitaze hydrochloride
• Tiazac Dilacor XR
• Cardizem LA
• Cardizem SR
• Cardizem
• Dilitazem

Safety Information:

People who have types of irregular heartbeat should not be prescribed Cardizem CD by their physician. This is because the medication can lower the patient's heartbeat. This can cause the patient's pulse to become weak which can lead to serious medical issues. Patients who have a history of congestive heart failure and angina will need to talk to their cardiologist before using the medication because other heart medications may need to be prescribed in conjunction with this medication. Children and pregnant women should not take this medication because studies have never been done on the medication to study its effects on this segment of the population.

For patients with high blood pressure, starting doses of Cardizem CD are approximately 180 to 240 milligrams; for patients with angina, it is approximately 120 to 180 milligrams.

Dosage:

• 120 mg
• 180 mg
• 240 mg
• 300 mg
• 360 mg
• 420 mg

Visual Description:

The Cardizem CD 120 mg pill is pure green and has a Cardizem CD 120 mg imprint on it. The Cardizem CD 180 mg pill is dark blue and green and has a Cardizem CD 180 mg imprint on it. The Cardizem CD 240 mg pill is entirely dark blue and has a Cardizem CD 240 imprint on it.