Has this happened to anyone else?

[Twilight_Princess]

Two weeks ago my Cardio doctor changed my medication from Cardizem LA to Diltiazem CD. I know it's the generic brand of Cardizem. Anyway he raised my dosage from 240 mg. to 300 mg. For a whole week I had some terrible side effects. I blacked out once while sitting at my computer and then I came close to blacking out on a daily basis. I also felt off balance. I ended up going to my primary doctor, not for this, but for something else. I guess it was a follow up appointment. Anyway, he said that I was over medicated so he lowered my dosage back down to 240 mg. of Diltiazem CD and he also put me on Enalapril 2.5 mg. Since my Diltiazem dosage was raised I have been losing weight unintentionally. Believe me I have been eating VERY well and the pounds are still dropping. I have struggled to lose weight for months and now all of a sudden I'm losing. My question is could the Diltiazem be causing me to lose weight and has this happened to anyone else? My understanding is Diltiazem causes weight gain not weight loss.

[ireneo]

Did the doctor mention why he wanted to raise your Diltiazem? I never lost weight with that med (I have the generic as well) but I did have dizziness and nasty headaches the first 2 weeks. I was too dizzy to drive. It got better of course and except for fatigue and some brain fog, I was back to normal.

I'm not sure why you're losing the weight. Wish it worked that way for me. :-)  Perhaps your thyroid is off for some reason. They can check that with a simple blood test.

[Twilight_Princess]

Thank you for responding. I only wish it were the med causing the weight loss, but I know that isn't true. He raised it because it wasn't lowering my BP at all, but let me tell you, for that whole week I felt horrible. I might sound over dramatic, but I felt like I was knocking on heaven's door. I was afraid to go anywhere because I kept feeling so lightheaded and like I was going to pass out. Once the Diltiazem was lowered I felt better.

A friend of mine mentioned the thyroid too, but of course I think the worse and thought something else. Now that I think about it I have been having the case of the jitters every once in a while (haven't felt that way in years). I had a total hysterectomy in February 08 so maybe my hormones are playing games with my thyroid now - who knows, but I am going to give my Endo a call next week so this can be checked out.