📌 Medicine Name:
Diltiazem Hydrochloride Modified Release Tablet 180 mg
📋 Description / Prescription:
Diltiazem MR 180 mg is a prescription-only, once-daily or twice-daily oral tablet designed for sustained or controlled release of the active drug. It is used for:
- Essential hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Chronic stable angina pectoris
- Rate control in certain arrhythmias (e.g., atrial fibrillation)
💊 The modified release formulation allows for prolonged therapeutic action over 12–24 hours, improving convenience and compliance.
🔬 Nature / Mechanism of Action:
- A non-dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker
- Inhibits L-type calcium influx in cardiac and vascular smooth muscle
- Slows AV nodal conduction, reduces heart rate, lowers myocardial oxygen demand, and promotes vasodilation
✅ Advantages / Therapeutic Benefits:
- 🔄 Sustained blood pressure control over 24 hours
- ⏱️ Reduced dosing frequency (once or twice daily)
- ❤️ Helps prevent angina attacks
- 🧠 Reduces risk of stroke, heart attack, and target organ damage
- 💊 Improves adherence compared to multiple daily doses
📦 Packaging:
- Tablet form, often film-coated, capsule-shaped or round
- Commonly packaged in blister packs or HDPE bottles
- Typical pack sizes: 10, 15, 30 tablets per strip or bottle
🌡️ Storage:
- Store at 15°C to 30°C (59°F to 86°F)
- Keep in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight and moisture
- Keep tightly closed and out of reach of children
⚠️ Precautions:
Use with caution in patients with:
- Sick sinus syndrome, 2nd or 3rd-degree AV block (without pacemaker)
- Congestive heart failure with reduced ejection fraction
- Severe liver or renal impairment
- Elderly—more sensitive to cardiovascular effects
Drug interactions:
- Caution when used with beta-blockers, digoxin, CYP3A4 inhibitors/inducers, statins (e.g., simvastatin)
❗ Do NOT crush or chew MR tablets – it will disrupt the release mechanism.
👩⚕️ Patient Advice / Counseling Points:
- 🕒 Take at the same time every day, preferably with food
- 💧 Swallow tablet whole with water – do not crush, split, or chew
- 🔁 Continue even if you feel well—hypertension often has no symptoms
- 🚫 Avoid grapefruit juice – may increase diltiazem levels dangerously
- 🚗 May cause dizziness or fatigue—be cautious when driving
- 📞 Report signs like:
- Bradycardia (slow heartbeat)
- Swelling of feet/ankles
- Shortness of breath, or
- Persistent light-headedness or fainting