Calcium Channel Blockers (diltiazem)

[sueinns]

Since I am not tolerating the beta blocker very well, my doctor has prescribed Cardizem which is a calcium channel blocker, for my PAT's.  She thinks it might be easier to exercise on this drug than on the beta blocker.  The list of side effects appears long when compared to the beta blockers but I've only started investigating.

Can anyone here enlighten me about their experience with CCB's?  

[va_tony]

I've been on various calcium channel blockers for the last 20 years to control high BP.  I'm now on cardizem (240 mg/day). When I was younger, I ran daily and went to the gym often and never felt that the CCB impeded my ability to exercise.  I'm now 65 and one of the meds I take (likely the rythmol for afib), definitely limits my maximum HR (typically 130-140 is the highest it will go) and so does affect aerobic capacity.  I still work out a few times a week at the gym using a treadmill to jog a couple of miles and to work out on Nautalus machines. One problem I experienced with the CCB is that my ankles began to swell. That necessitated my doc placing me on a diuretic (HCTZ) which seems to have resolved the problem.