cardizem

How long does Diltiazem Hydrochloride stay in your body?

The elimination half-life of diltiazem hydrochloride is about 3 to 4.5 hours — the time it takes the body to clear about half of it. As a rule of thumb, a medicine is mostly gone after roughly 4 to 5 half-lives, though this varies from person to person with age and kidney or liver function. This is the plasma elimination half-life of diltiazem itself after single or repeated dosing, in adults with normal organ function. The label elsewhere quotes a slightly wider 2-to-5-hour range for the drug. Three things change that number. (1) Extended-release forms: the label reports an apparent elimination half-life of 5 to 8 hours for the extended-release capsule. That is the slow release of the formulation, not a change in how fast the body clears the drug. (2) An active metabolite: desacetyldiltiazem circulates at 10% to 20% of parent levels and is 25% to 50% as potent a coronary vasodilator as diltiazem, so some activity outlasts the parent drug's numbers. The label does not state a half-life for desacetyldiltiazem, so none is given here. The label does note that metabolites are eliminated more slowly than the parent, with a total-radioactivity half-life of about 20 hours. (3) Dose: kinetics are not linear, and the label says half-life is slightly increased at higher doses. By population, the label says liver disease matters and kidney disease does not: in cirrhosis, half-life was increased and bioavailability rose 69%; in nine patients with severely impaired renal function, the pharmacokinetic profile did not differ from normal. The Geriatric Use section states nothing about half-life in older adults. Diltiazem is not a prodrug. These figures describe how long the drug stays in plasma; they are not a drug-test detection window (metabolites are detectable far longer) and are not dosing guidance.

This is general information, not medical advice. It doesn’t tell you when a drug test would read negative (tests detect substances for different, often longer, windows) or when it’s safe to take another dose — ask your pharmacist or prescriber. Source: DailyMed - DILTIAZEM HYDROCHLORIDE capsule, extended release (Clinical Pharmacology - Pharmacokinetics and Metabolism).

Frequently asked questions

What does Cardizem treat?

Cardizem (Diltiazem Hydrochloride) may be used to treat variant angina pectoris, atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, hypertension, myocardial infarction, supraventricular tachycardia, based on NIH RxClass drug-classification data (conditions a drug may treat — not a verbatim copy of the FDA-approved label). This is general reference, not medical advice.

How does Cardizem work?

Cardizem is a calcium channel blocker. Calcium channel blockers slow the flow of calcium into the muscle cells of the heart and blood vessels. With less calcium, blood vessels relax and widen and the heart pumps with less force, which lowers blood pressure and eases chest pain.

How much does Cardizem cost?

Nobody can tell you what you will pay — your price is set by your insurer's formulary, your deductible and the pharmacy's markup, and none of those are published. What IS published is what the pharmacy paid to acquire it: about $9.18 for 30, per the CMS NADAC survey. Treat that as the floor, not the quote — ask the pharmacist for the cash price as well as your copay, because for cheap generics the cash price often wins. Pharmacies pay less for a same-class option, Amlodipine Besylate — about $0.33 on the same basis.

Is there a coupon or discount for Cardizem?

pharmaranks is an independent ratings site, not a pharmacy — we don't issue coupons or sell Cardizem. To pay less, ask your prescriber or pharmacist whether a generic equivalent exists, check the manufacturer's copay/savings card and patient-assistance program, and compare a pharmacy discount card against your insurance copay. Prices vary by pharmacy, insurance, and location, so always confirm at the counter. This is general reference, not medical or financial advice.

Who makes Cardizem?

Cardizem is marketed by Biovail. You can see Biovail's full profile, rating, and other products on pharmaranks.

Is Cardizem a brand-name or generic drug?

Cardizem is a brand-name product with the active ingredient Diltiazem Hydrochloride. Lower-cost generic equivalents containing Diltiazem Hydrochloride are available — ask your pharmacist.

Is Cardizem available over the counter?

No. Cardizem is a prescription (Rx) medication in the US — you need a prescription from a licensed clinician (in person or via telehealth); it isn't sold over the counter. For some conditions there are OTC alternatives — ask your pharmacist.

What forms does Cardizem come in?

Cardizem is currently marketed as tablet, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory.

What class of drug is Cardizem?

Cardizem is classified as calcium channel blocker, per the FDA's Established Pharmacologic Class.

Is Cardizem FDA-registered?

Cardizem is on record with the U.S. FDA under application number NDA020792. You can verify this on its official FDA label.