Drug effects

[flcajun]

I am a 53 year old female who is being treated for irregular heart beat along with angina.  2 wks ago my doctor switched me from 30mg dilatazem 4x day to 60mg 3x day. I understand most side effects will eventually go away and they have except for the headaches. Has anyone else had this problem?

[flcajun]

Thanks for your input.  The AskaPatient site was a big help.  I have recently stop taking my Simvastatin (Zocor) to see if my side effects may be from it.  No other advice from my doc as far as diet, limitations, etc.  The headaches started with this med and they are more of pressure than pain.  When I was on the 30mg I had this problem but it went away after about a week.  Will see doc next week and run this by him.  Not sure if this is a life time medicine (hope not).This med is better than the beta blockers so I hope it works out.  

[va_tony]

I take cardizem (240 mg/day) and generally have no problem with it.  The only side-effect that surfaced was swollen ankles.  Now that I'm also on HCTZ (a diuretic) that problem has gone away.

Google a site called AskaPatient, go to it and type in cardizem. There's 27 patients who have made comments (both good and bad).

[often]

Diltiazem is generic for cardizem.  I took that for a number of years until about 3 years ago.  I never noticed any side effects from it.   I am not sure how long the headache will hang around, but if you don't get the answer here, check with your doc.  If they don't go away, maybe he can rethink the dosing.

Did you have the headaches when you first started taking it?

[flcajun]

Sorry, the drug is diltiazem. Also, it feels like I am getting a chest cold at times.

[FLBrat]

sorry, I do not take that medication.  are you on any other meds?  what other advice did the doctor give? (diet, limitation of any kind?)