Splitting long acting Cardizem (was: Question please)

[Guest guest]

> From: Quarter Acre Orchids

> Date: 2/26/04, 9:43 PM -0500

>

snip

> You might also try splitting your dose [of 240 mg of

> Cardizem] .. 120 in the am and 120 in the pm

I believe there is no long acting version of Cardizem

(or diltiazem) that should be split (splitting would

alter the rate of absorption and elimination half life).

A general description of the different types of

extended-release products is here:

http://www.australianprescriber.com/magazines/vol22no4/oral.htm

[Guest guest]

I take 120 in the morning, and when I went into afib they instructed me to take

120 in the am and 120 in the pm.... but while I was in the hospital last week, I

was getting 90 mg every 6 hours.

I'm not referring to splitting the pill, and certainly not a capsule .. I'm

referring only to splitting the dose... instead of taking one 240, take two 120s

12 hours apart, and again, only with the cardiologist approval!

fredmcc@... wrote:

> From: Quarter Acre Orchids

> Date: 2/26/04, 9:43 PM -0500

>

snip

> You might also try splitting your dose [of 240 mg of

> Cardizem] .. 120 in the am and 120 in the pm

I believe there is no long acting version of Cardizem

(or diltiazem) that should be split (splitting would

alter the rate of absorption and elimination half life).

A general description of the different types of

extended-release products is here:

http://www.australianprescriber.com/magazines/vol22no4/oral.htm

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Nothing in this message should be considered as medical advice, or should be

acted upon without consultation with one's physician.

[Guest guest]

Yes, I inferred " tablet, " which was neither said nor implied.

The regular, short acting diltiazem has a rather short elimination time, and to

keep the concentration in the body reasonably level it is recommendeed to take

it every 6 or 8 hours. The once a day 120 mg dose you now take every morning is

of the long acting type, I assume, if not you should talk to your physician.

> From: Quarter Acre Orchids

> Date: 2/27/04, 4:35 PM -0500

>

> I take 120 in the morning, and when I went into afib they instructed me to

take 120 in the am and 120 in the pm.... but while I was in the hospital last

week, I was getting 90 mg every 6 hours.

>

> I'm not referring to splitting the pill, and certainly not a capsule .. I'm

referring only to splitting the dose... instead of taking one 240, take two 120s

12 hours apart, and again, only with the cardiologist approval!

>

> fredmcc@... wrote:

> > From: Quarter Acre Orchids

> > Date: 2/26/04, 9:43 PM -0500

> >

> snip

> > You might also try splitting your dose [of 240 mg of

> > Cardizem] .. 120 in the am and 120 in the pm

>

>

> I believe there is no long acting version of Cardizem

> (or diltiazem) that should be split (splitting would

> alter the rate of absorption and elimination half life).

>

> A general description of the different types of

> extended-release products is here:

>

> http://www.australianprescriber.com/magazines/vol22no4/oral.htm

[Guest guest]

Yes, I inferred " tablet, " which was neither said nor implied.

The regular, short acting diltiazem has a rather short elimination time, and to

keep the concentration in the body reasonably level it is recommendeed to take

it every 6 or 8 hours. The once a day 120 mg dose you now take every morning is

of the long acting type, I assume, if not you should talk to your physician.

> From: Quarter Acre Orchids

> Date: 2/27/04, 4:35 PM -0500

>

> I take 120 in the morning, and when I went into afib they instructed me to

take 120 in the am and 120 in the pm.... but while I was in the hospital last

week, I was getting 90 mg every 6 hours.

>

> I'm not referring to splitting the pill, and certainly not a capsule .. I'm

referring only to splitting the dose... instead of taking one 240, take two 120s

12 hours apart, and again, only with the cardiologist approval!

>

> fredmcc@... wrote:

> > From: Quarter Acre Orchids

> > Date: 2/26/04, 9:43 PM -0500

> >

> snip

> > You might also try splitting your dose [of 240 mg of

> > Cardizem] .. 120 in the am and 120 in the pm

>

>

> I believe there is no long acting version of Cardizem

> (or diltiazem) that should be split (splitting would

> alter the rate of absorption and elimination half life).

>

> A general description of the different types of

> extended-release products is here:

>

> http://www.australianprescriber.com/magazines/vol22no4/oral.htm

[Guest guest]

I assume the cardizem is long acting, however, it's now my " backup " since I am

also on Tikosyn, which is the big gun. I am hoping to be weened off the

cardizem, coumadin and liprinosil, with the tikosyn as my primary control,

leaving the others for periods of afib, which are hopefully now a thing of the

past. I like the idea of taking less, rather than more.

Stef

fredmcc@... wrote:

Yes, I inferred " tablet, " which was neither said nor implied.

The regular, short acting diltiazem has a rather short elimination time, and to

keep the concentration in the body reasonably level it is recommendeed to take

it every 6 or 8 hours. The once a day 120 mg dose you now take every morning is

of the long acting type, I assume, if not you should talk to your physician.

> From: Quarter Acre Orchids

> Date: 2/27/04, 4:35 PM -0500

>

> I take 120 in the morning, and when I went into afib they instructed me to

take 120 in the am and 120 in the pm.... but while I was in the hospital last

week, I was getting 90 mg every 6 hours.

>

> I'm not referring to splitting the pill, and certainly not a capsule .. I'm

referring only to splitting the dose... instead of taking one 240, take two 120s

12 hours apart, and again, only with the cardiologist approval!

>

> fredmcc@... wrote:

> > From: Quarter Acre Orchids

> > Date: 2/26/04, 9:43 PM -0500

> >

> snip

> > You might also try splitting your dose [of 240 mg of

> > Cardizem] .. 120 in the am and 120 in the pm

>

>

> I believe there is no long acting version of Cardizem

> (or diltiazem) that should be split (splitting would

> alter the rate of absorption and elimination half life).

>

> A general description of the different types of

> extended-release products is here:

>

> http://www.australianprescriber.com/magazines/vol22no4/oral.htm

Backup web page - http://afibsupport.proboards23.com

List owner: AFIBsupport-owner

For help on how to use the group, including how to drive it via email,

send a blank email to AFIBsupport-help

Nothing in this message should be considered as medical advice, or should be

acted upon without consultation with one's physician.