Diltiazem(tiazac) causes a-fib

Question

I was on tiazac 360mg for a couple of years for high blood pressure.I started having palpitations, skipped beats. The longer I was on it the worse it got. It finally got to where I was having some beats so strong and violent.I told my cardiologist and asked to change medication or a lower dose.He told me to go back to my family doctor who prescribed it originally. As it was 6 weeks to see him, I decided to stop the tiazac. After a few days the symptoms went away. I went back on and symptoms returned. Saw my family doctor. He changed me monocor ,and sent me for ekg, 24 hr,holter .Cardiologist put me on rythmol. Eventually i was told have a-fib, caused by a stretched upper heart chamber.I think the stretching was caused by the violent heart beats caused by the tiazac. Referred to another doctor for cardioversion. He put me on diltiazem 180mg . I told him about the problems with tiazac. He told me the lower dose and because along with rythmol would be OK. Some symptoms returned but much less. Had cardioversion May 22, 2012. A-fib returned May 25 2012.Next time hope to be off diltizem. Also I think I will try magnesium (2 gm/day) . Any suggestions etc appreciated.

This discussion is related to Drugs such as diltiazem seem to bring on my Atrial fib. Is this possible?.

ralphfuhj · Answer

29 may switched from 180mg diltiazam back to 5mg monocor (with Doctors  permission) taking rythmol and pradax.  Had some improvement at first. Taking magnesium citrate-150mg  and omega-3 500mg 3 times a day.16 june stopped monocor and rythmol. More improvement and sometimes normal and regular.22 june to 28 june very stable heart rate with only 2 or 3 times of irregular beating, and always good in the morning. However my blood pressure seams to be increasing.highest172/108p63 in the morning,but usually 140/95 pulse 70. If it stays high I think I will start monocor again, maybe 1.25 mg to see what happens. What do you think?

DrAnitha · Answer

Hello and hope you are doing well.

Diltiazem is known to cause Angina, AV block, bundle branch block, ECG abnormalities, palpitations, and ventricular extrasystoles. If Afib is not responding to cardioversion then catheter ablation may be the choice.

Hope this helped and do keep us posted.