Product Details

What you need to know before you take Adizem XL capsules (Diltiazem XL)

Do not take Adizem XL capsules (Diltiazem XL) if you: • are allergic (hypersensitive) to diltiazem or any of the other ingredients of the capsules (see section 6 ‘Further Information’); • are pregnant, likely to become pregnant or are breastfeeding; • have a very slow (less than 40 beats per minute) or irregular heart beat; • have heart failure (which can cause shortness of breath or ankle swelling) and problems with blood flow to the lungs. Children should not take these capsules. Warning and precautions Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking these capsules if you: • have liver or kidney problems as your doctor may monitor you more closely; • have any other problem with your heart apart from angina and those listed above; • have porphyria (a rare disease of the blood pigments); • have bowel problems. Other medicines and Adizem XL capsules (Diltiazem XL) Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription. If you take Adizem XL capsules (Diltiazem XL) with some other medicines, the effect of Adizem XL capsules (Diltiazem XL) or the other medicine may be changed. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking: • any other medicines for high blood pressure, such as beta blockers (for example atenolol), diuretics (for example bendroflumethiazide) or ACE inhibitors (examples include captopril and enalapril); • medicines known as alpha blockers, which you may be taking to treat high blood pressure or prostate disorders (for example prazosin); • any medicines which may cause low blood pressure or slow heart beat (for example aldesleukin to treat cancer of the kidneys, or antipsychotics to treat mental and behavioural disorders); • ivabradine to treat angina; • anti-arrhythmic medicines to treat an irregular or rapid heart beat (for example digoxin, amiodarone or beta-blockers); • cilostazol to treat a condition that causes leg pain due to a restriction in blood supply to the muscles, known as intermittent claudication; • medicines known as statins to reduce cholesterol levels in your blood (examples include simvastatin or atorvastatin); • medicines known as H2 antagonists used to treat stomach ulcers, indigestion or heartburn, such as cimetidine or ranitidine; • carbamazepine or phenytoin to treat seizures, fits or convulsions; • medicines known as benzodiazepines to treat anxiety or help you sleep (for example midazolam ); • medicines known as barbiturates to either treat fits or to help you sleep (examples include phenobarbital or primidone); • antidepressants known as tricyclic antidepressants (examples include amitriptyline or imipramine) or lithium; • rifampicin to treat tuberculosis; • ciclosporin, sirolimus or tacrolimus to prevent organ transplant rejection or treat other immune system disorders; • a specific type of medicine known as a protease inhibitor to treat HIV (examples include atazanavir or ritonavir); • dantrolene (a muscle relaxant); • theophylline to treat breathing problems such as asthma; • medicines known as nitrate derivatives to treat angina or high blood pressure (examples include glyceryl trinitrate or isosorbide mononitrate); • medicines for inflammation or allergies, known as steroids (for example methylprednisolone). Anaesthetics and Adizem XL capsules (Diltiazem XL) If you are having a general anaesthetic, tell your doctor that you are taking these capsules as some of the effects of the anaesthetic may be increased by these capsules. Taking Adizem XL capsules (Diltiazem XL) with alcohol Do not take Adizem XL capsules (Diltiazem XL) at the same time as an alcoholic drink. Pregnancy, breastfeeding and fertility Do not take Adizem XL capsules (Diltiazem XL) if you are pregnant, likely to become pregnant or are breastfeeding. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine. Driving and using machines The capsules may cause a number of side effects such as dizziness and a general feeling of being unwell. These could affect your ability to drive (see section 4 for a full list of side effects) and are usually most noticeable when you start taking the capsules, or when changing to higher dose. If you are affected you should not drive or operate machinery. Adizem XL capsules (Diltiazem XL) contain soya oil If you are allergic to peanuts or soya do not take these capsules. This medicine contains less than 1mmol sodium (23mg) per capsule, that is to say essentially ‘sodium-free’.