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Suggest The Ideal Dosage For Diltiazem

Posted on Wed, 4 May 2016

Question: I am on 240 mg Diltiazem. I used to take two 120 mg pills for the dose. I was recently switched to a single 240 mg pill. I put these pills in a 28-day pill container. The last time I filled the container, I brain-farted and put two of the 240mg in each day thinking ( iguess) that they were still the 120s. So, I've been taking twice my dose now for three weeks. I feel fine. Reflecting, my fingers are fatter - I'm more fatigued and a flight of steps kicks my butt in a way it didn't use to. I took my BP after a moderate workout yesterday and it was 138/86. I'm taking the med for a mild palpitation that doc says is harmless, but, since it was scary to me, he put me on the drug. So...have I done damage and can I just revert to the single 240 mg or do I need to slowly bring it down?

Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Going to once a day from twice a day should be fine.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.

Although 480 mg of Diltiazem per day is quite high, I do not think that it is likely to do any harm. Just revert to 240 mg once daily and things should be fine without any definite cause of worry. Continue to have a healthy lifestyle with moderate exercise daily.

I do not see any requirement to bring it down slowly. You can step down directly.

Regards

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar