tiamate

How long does Diltiazem Malate stay in your body?

The elimination half-life of diltiazem malate 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 Tiamate treat?

Tiamate (Diltiazem Malate) 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 is Tiamate rated?

pharmaranks gives Tiamate a composite score of 3.5 out of 5, currently based on 1 weighted source (FDA regulatory recall-safety data weighted highest). See our methodology at /how-we-rate.

Is there a coupon or discount for Tiamate?

pharmaranks is an independent ratings site, not a pharmacy — we don't issue coupons or sell Tiamate. 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 Tiamate?

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

Is Tiamate a brand-name or generic drug?

Tiamate is a brand-name product with the active ingredient Diltiazem Malate.

Is Tiamate available over the counter?

No. Tiamate 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 Tiamate come in?

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

Is Tiamate FDA-registered?

Tiamate is on record with the U.S. FDA under application number NDA020506. You can verify this on its official FDA label.

Has Tiamate been recalled by the FDA?

Tiamate has no FDA recalls recorded under its own application in the openFDA enforcement database. Its recall-safety score reflects its manufacturer's overall recall record. This is general reference, not medical advice — check the FDA recall database for the latest alerts.

Is Tiamate safe?

There's no single safe-or-not verdict. pharmaranks gives Tiamate a recall-safety score of 70/100, based on its FDA recall history (no recalls under its own FDA application) — not an efficacy or side-effect rating. Review its FDA-label side effects and warnings before use, and always consult a licensed professional.