TIAZAC (DILTIAZEM EXTENDED RELEASE)

Tiazac Description

If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure (hypertension), your doctor may recommend a prescription for Tiazac or generic Diltiazem Extended Release, a calcium channel blocker (CCB) drug. This will help decrease your blood pressure and avoid the risk of a possible heart attack, stroke, or kidney disease as a result of damage to your blood vessels from the force of the blood flow. The generic alternative is not manufactured by the company that makes the brand product.

Some people are able to control hypertension by adopting a healthier lifestyle with staying active, losing weight, eating healthier, and kicking their smoking habit while others may be required to take Tiazac long-term to regulate their blood pressure.

How CCB Drugs Work to Reduce High Blood Pressure

When taken as directed, its objective is to block the entry of calcium into the muscle cells that make up your heart and surround the arteries. The entry of calcium is the cause of these cells contracting which narrows your blood vessels and creates the pressure. As Tiazac blocks calcium, the force and rate of contractions of your heart is lowered and your arteries dilate so blood flow is returned to normal and your heart does not have to work as hard to supply blood to your other organs and tissues.

Conditions Treated by Tiazac

Tiazac is also prescribed to treat angina. Angina is the name given to the pain you feel as your heart is struggling for oxygen in order to keep up with the demands of the rest of your body as your blood flow is impaired from the narrowed arteries. The pain can resemble a heart attack and could, in fact, be a warning that a possible heart attack or stroke is imminent unless your blood pressure is reduced.

High blood pressure is also the most common cause of atrial fibrillation (A Fib), an electrical disturbance in the two top chambers of your heart. This can cause your heart beat to increase or become irregular which can interfere with your heart’s ability to pump blood effectively. Tiazac can help control your blood pressure and, in turn, will reduce your risk of having A Fib.

Before Tiazac is Prescribed

Ask your doctor if it is safe to take Tiazac if you are pregnant, may become pregnant, or are breast feeding. Discuss other medical conditions or allergies you have and provide your doctor with a list of current OTC and Rx medications you are on, including herbal remedies and vitamin or dietary supplements. This will help your doctor determine if Tiazac is the right medicine for you.

Proper Use of Tiazac

Until you know how your body will react to Tiazac, avoid driving, operating machinery, and performing other tasks that may be considered unsafe if you are not alert or in control. Do not stop taking Tiazac before the time indicated by your doctor, even if you think you feel better because hypertension has no symptoms to speak of, unless it is severe. Eat healthier, lose weight, limit alcohol, reduce your salt intake, and take Tiazac as directed.

Possible Side Effects of Tiazac

• Dizziness
• Headache
• Nausea
• Heartburn