Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) summary
The
full CMI on the next page has more details. If you are worried about using this medicine,
speak to your doctor or pharmacist.
Why am I using Diltiazem Sandoz CD?
Diltiazem Sandoz CD capsules contains the active ingredient diltiazem hydrochloride.
Diltiazem Sandoz CD is used to prevent angina or to treat hypertension (high blood
pressure).
What should I know before I use Diltiazem Sandoz CD?
Do not use if you have ever had an allergic reaction to Diltiazem Sandoz CD capsules
or any of the ingredients listed at the end of the CMI.
Talk to your doctor if you have any other medical conditions, take any other medicines,
or are pregnant or plan to become pregnant or are breastfeeding.
What if I am taking other medicines?
Some medicines may interfere with Diltiazem Sandoz CD and affect how it works.
How do I use Diltiazem Sandoz CD?
Diltiazem Sandoz CD capsules can be taken once a day, preferably at the same time
every day.
Swallow the capsules or the tablets with a glass of water. Do not chew them.
Your doctor will tell you how often and how many Diltiazem Sandoz CD capsules to take.
What should I know while using Diltiazem Sandoz CD?
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Things you should do
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Remind any doctor, dentist or pharmacist you visit that you are using Diltiazem Sandoz
CD.
If you are taking these medicines for angina, tell your doctor if you continue to
have angina attacks or if they become more frequent.
Take these medicines exactly as your doctor has prescribed.
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Things you should not do
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Do not use these medicines to treat any other complaints unless your doctor says to.
If you are taking these medicines for angina, do not suddenly stop taking your medicine
since this can cause severe angina for a day or two.
Do not use during pregnancy.
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Driving or using machines
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Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how these medicines affect
you.
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Looking after your medicine
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Keep these medicines in a cool, dry place where it stays below 25°C.
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Are there any side effects?
All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, but most of the time
they are not. Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel
well while you are using these medicines. Some of the serious side effects are heat
beating irregularly, slowly or very quickly; continuously lightheaded or dizzy; feeling
pain, which may be severe, in your left arm and chest. For more information, including
what to do if you have any side effects, see Section
6. Are there any side effects? in the full CMI.
Active ingredient:
Diltiazem hydrochloride
Consumer Medicine Information (CMI)
This leaflet provides important information about using Diltiazem Sandoz CD. You should also speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you would like further information
or if you have any concerns or questions about using Diltiazem Sandoz CD.
Where to find information in this leaflet:
Why am I using Diltiazem Sandoz CD?
You have been prescribed either Diltiazem Sandoz CD. This medicine contains an active
ingredient called diltiazem hydrochloride. Diltiazem Sandoz CD is designed to release the active ingredient slowly so that it
works over 24 hours and can be taken once a day (CD stands for "controlled delivery").
This medicine belong to a group of medicines called calcium channel blockers or calcium
antagonists. They work by opening up blood vessels, which lowers blood pressure and
lets more blood and oxygen reach the heart. They do not change the amount of calcium
in your blood or bones.
Diltiazem Sandoz CD is used to prevent angina or to treat hypertension (high blood
pressure).
Angina is a pain or uncomfortable sensation in the chest, often spreading to the arms
or neck and sometimes to the shoulders and back. The pain of angina is due to a shortage
of oxygen to the heart.
High blood pressure can have many different causes, including kidney disease, hardening
of the arteries and some hormone imbalances. However, the vast majority of people
with high blood pressure have no identifiable cause for it. If left untreated, high
blood pressure can lead to serious health problems such as a stroke or heart attack.
Your doctor may have prescribed this medicine for another reason.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why this medicine has been prescribed
for you.
There is no evidence that this medicine is addictive.
This medicine are available only with a doctor's prescription.
What should I know before I use Diltiazem Sandoz CD?
Warnings
Do not use either Diltiazem Sandoz CD if:
you are allergic to diltiazem hydrochloride, or any of the ingredients listed at the
end of this leaflet.
Symptoms of an allergic reaction to these medicines may include:
asthma, wheezing or shortness of breath
swelling of the face, lips or tongue, which may cause difficulty in swallowing or
breathing
hives, itching or skin rash
fainting
Always check the ingredients to make sure you can use these medicines.
you have certain types of abnormal heart rhythm
you have hypotension (low blood pressure)
you have had a heart attack or have other heart-related complications
you have pulmonary congestion (fluid on the lungs)
you are currently taking any of the following medications:
dantrolene (muscle relaxant)
ivabradine (for heart failure/angina)
the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering or if tablets or capsules do not
look right
the expiry date (EXP) printed on the pack has passed
If you take these medicines after the expiry date has passed, it may not work as well.
Check with your doctor if you:
are not sure whether you should start taking this medicine
take any medicines for any other condition
have allergies to:
any other medicines
any other substances, such as foods, preservatives or dyes
have or have had any medical conditions, especially the following:
abnormal heart beat rhythm
hypotension (low blood pressure)
heart attack or other heart-related complications
impaired renal (kidney) or hepatic (liver) function
diabetes
asthma
During treatment, you may be at risk of developing certain side effects. It is important
you understand these risks and how to monitor for them. See additional information
under Section
6. Are there any side effects?
Use in Children
Do not give this medicine to a child.
The safety and effectiveness of this medicine has not been established in children.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant.
Diltiazem Sandoz CD should not be used during pregnancy.
This medicine may affect your developing baby if it is taken during pregnancy.
Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding or intend to breastfeed.
Your doctor will discuss this situation with you. A decision will have to be made
whether to discontinue breastfeeding or discontinue therapy taking into consideration
the importance of the medicine.
The active ingredient of this medicine passes into breast milk and may affect your
baby.
What if I am taking other medicines?
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any
medicines, vitamins or supplements that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy,
supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines may interfere with Diltiazem Sandoz CD and affects how it works. These include:
dantrolene (a muscle relaxant)
aspirin
medications used to help prevent blood clots (antiplatelets)
cilostazol (a medicine used to treat blockage of blood vessels to the legs)
Some other medicines for your heart or high blood pressure (eg. beta blockers, digoxin,
amiodarone, nitrates)
ciclosporin, which you may have been given after an operation or because of rheumatoid
arthritis
rifampicin (an antibiotic)
cimetidine or ranitidine (for ulcers or reflux)
diazepam (for depression, alcohol withdrawal or anxiety)
phenytoin (for epilepsy)
carbamazepine (for bipolar disorder or epilepsy)
lithium (for bipolar disorder)
theophylline (for asthma and other breathing problems)
certain drugs used to treat prostate problems
ivabradine (for heart failure/angina)
inhaled anaesthetic agents such as halothane, isoflurane, enflurane (for surgery)
drugs used to lower your blood cholesterol (including simvastatin, lovastatin)
benzodiazepines or medicines used as sedatives or to treat anxiety such as midazolam,
triazolam
corticosteroids such as methylprednisolone, prednisone, cortisone
antiarrhythmics or medicines used to treat irregular heart beats
medicines used during scans to see images of your body
Diltiazem Sandoz CD may themselves be affected, or they may affect how well these
medicines work. You may need to take different amounts of your medicine, or you may
need to take different medicines. Your doctor will advise you.
Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure about what medicines, vitamins
or supplements you are taking and if these affect Diltiazem Sandoz CD.
How do I take Diltiazem Sandoz CD?
How much to take
Diltiazem Sandoz CD can be taken once a day, preferably at the same time every day.
Your doctor will tell you how often and how many Diltiazem Sandoz CD capsules to take.
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor and pharmacist carefully until your
doctor tells you to stop. Write them down if necessary.
If you do not understand the instructions on the packaging of this medicine, ask your
doctor or pharmacist for help.
How to take it
Swallow the capsules with a glass of water. Do not chew them.
When to take it
Take this medicine at the same time(s) every day.
How long to take it
If you are not sure how long to take your medicine, talk to your doctor.
If you forget to take Diltiazem Sandoz CD
If you are taking these medicines for angina, do not suddenly stop taking them since
this can cause severe angina for a day or two.
If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next
dose when you are meant to. Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember, and then go
back to taking your tablets or capsules as you would normally.
Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose you missed.
If you have trouble remembering to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some
hints.
If you take too many Diltiazem Sandoz CD
If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too many Diltiazem Sandoz CD capsules,
you may need urgent medical attention.
You should immediately:
phone the Poisons Information Centre
(by calling 13 11 26) or
contact your doctor, or
go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital.
You should do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
If you take too much of these medicines, you may:
feel continuously light-headed or dizzy
notice your heart beating very slowly
feel pain, which could be severe, in your left arm and chest.
If any of these occur, you should get medical attention immediately.
What should I know while using Diltiazem Sandoz CD?
Things you should do
Take this medicine exactly as your doctor has prescribed.
If you do not follow your doctor's instructions, you may not get relief from your
attacks of angina, or your blood pressure may not be as well controlled as it could
be.
If you are taking this medicine for angina, tell your doctor if you continue to have
angina attacks or if they become more frequent.
Tell your doctor dentist or pharmacist that you are taking Diltiazem Sandoz CD if
you are about to be started on any new medicine.
Things to be careful of
Be careful not to overdo physical activities when you first start using this medicine.
You may feel better when you start taking this medicine, but you will need time to
improve your physical fitness.
Drinking grapefruit juice may increase the effects of Diltiazem Sandoz CD.
Get up slowly when getting out of bed or standing up if you feel light-headed, dizzy
or faint.
If this is a problem and it gets worse or continues, talk to your doctor.
Things you should not do
Do not use this medicine to treat any other complaints unless your doctor says to.
Do not give this medicine to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as
you.
As mentioned previously, if you are taking these medicines for angina, do not suddenly
stop taking your medicine since this can cause severe angina for a day or two.
Driving or using machines
Be careful before you drive or use any machines or tools until you know how this medicine
affects you.
This medicine may cause dizziness and fainting in some patients, especially when you
first start to use them. Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before
you drive a car, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous if
this happens to you.
Looking after your medicine
Keep this medicine in the packaging until it is time to take them. If you take the
medicine out of its container it may not keep well.
Store below 25°C.
Store it in a cool dry place away from moisture, heat or sunlight; for example, do
not store it:
in the bathroom or near a sink, or
in the car or on window sills.
A locked cupboard at least one-and-a half metres above the ground is a good place
to store medicines.
Keep it where young children cannot reach it.
Getting rid of any unwanted medicine
If you no longer need to use this medicine or it is out of date, take it to any pharmacy
for safe disposal.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date.
Are there any side effects?
This medicine helps most people with angina and will help control most people's blood
pressure, but they may have unwanted effects in a few people.
All medicines can have side effects. If you do experience any side effects, most of
them are minor and temporary. However, some side effects may need medical attention.
See the information below and, if you need to, ask your doctor or pharmacist if you
have any further questions about side effects.
Less serious side effects
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Less serious side effects
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What to do
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Skin-related
small round, raised itchy areas on the skin
rash or an itchy, burning or prickly sensation
increased sensitivity to the sun
General
swelling or flushing (feeling hot suddenly)
headache
dizziness
loss of appetite
dry mouth
weight increase
weakness or tiredness
trouble sleeping
Ear-related
ringing or other persistent noise in the ears
Gut-related
nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhoea, indigestion, gastric pain
Nervous system-related
confusion, hallucinations, abnormal dreams, mental depression or mood changes
nervousness, tremor
loss of memory
unusual movements or uncontrollable movements
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Speak to your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects and they worry
you.
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Serious side effects
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Serious side effects
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What to do
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General
you have difficulty breathing, wheezing or coughing
you have blisters and bleeding in the lips, eyes, mouth, nose or genitals
Skin Related
you have skin reactions such as red, painful or itchy spots, blisters or peeling of
the skin
Cardiovascular Related
you notice your heart beating irregularly, slowly or very quickly
you feel pain, which may be severe, in your left arm and chest
you feel continuously light headed or dizzy
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Call your doctor straight away, or go straight to the Emergency Department at your
nearest hospital if you notice any of these serious side effects.
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Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything else that may be making you
feel unwell.
Other side effects not listed here may occur in some people.
Reporting side effects
After you have received medical advice for any side effects you experience, you can
report side effects as follows:
By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of
this medicine.
Always make sure you speak to your doctor or pharmacist before you decide to stop
taking any of your medicines.
Product details
This medicine is only available with a doctor's prescription.
What Diltiazem Sandoz CD contains:
Diltiazem Sandoz CD 180 and 240 mg capsules
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Active ingredient
(main ingredient)
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diltiazem hydrochloride 180 mg or 240 mg
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Other ingredients
(inactive ingredients)
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fumaric acid, purified talc, non-pareil seeds (sucrose), colloidal anhydrous silica,
white beeswax, ethylcellulose, castor oil, stearic acid, methacrylic acid copolymers,
tributyl acetylcitrate, simethicone, gelatin, brilliant blue FCF, black iron oxide
and titanium dioxide.
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Diltiazem Sandoz CD 360 mg capsules
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Active ingredient
(main ingredient)
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diltiazem hydrochloride 360 mg
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Other ingredients
(inactive ingredients)
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non-pareil seed (sucrose), povidone, sodium lauryl sulfate, diethyl phthalate, purified
talc, methacrylic acid copolymers, tributyl acetylcitrate, simethicone, titanium dioxide,
brilliant blue FCF and gelatin.
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Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to any of these ingredients.
What Diltiazem Sandoz CD looks like
Diltiazem Sandoz CD is available in bottles of 30 capsules.
All doses (180 mg, 240 mg and 360 mg) are two component capsules:
The 180 mg capsules are blue and light blue (AUST R 131298)
The 240 mg capsules are blue and blue (AUST R 131300)
The 360 mg capsules are white and light blue (AUST R 131304)
Who distributes Diltiazem Sandoz CD
Diltiazem Sandoz CD is distributed by:
Sandoz Pty Ltd
54 Waterloo Road
Macquarie Park NSW 2113
This leaflet was prepared in August 2021.
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