Blood pressure medication often benefits the heart as well. Dilacor XR is prescribed for high blood pressure and to prevent angina, the chest pain associated with poor blood flow to the heart.
Also known by the generic name, diltiazem, the drug is a calcium channel blocker that slows the heart rate so the heart doesn’t have to work as hard, helping to decrease hypertension. Lowering blood pressure decreases the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and kidney disorders,
according to WebMD.
Calcium channel blockers work by "limiting the amount of calcium or the rate at which calcium flows into the heart muscle and arterial cell walls,"
reports Healthline.
"When calcium flow is limited, your heart’s contractions aren’t as strong and your blood vessels are able to relax, leading to lower blood pressure."
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An added benefit of diltiazem blood pressure medications is that Dilacore XR may "lower blood glucose levels in some people, particularly those whose dosage is higher than 60 milligrams per day," says Healthline.
Research published in the American Journal of Cardiovascular Drugs found that calcium channel blockers were proven to be the most effective blood pressure medication for African-Americans.
Blood pressure medications, like other prescription drugs, may cause side effects.
According to RxList, common side effects from Dilacor XR include:
- Itching
- Skin rash
- Dizziness
- Stuffy nose
- Headaches
- Tired feeling or weakness
- Upset stomach
- Nausea
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Flushing that causes warmth, tingling, itching, or redness under the skin
Your doctor can adjust the dosage if the side effects become uncomfortable or bothersome.
Some patients may experience allergic reactions from Dilacor XR, RxList explains. Emergency medical attention is required if the blood pressure medication causes breathing difficulties, hives, or swelling of the face, tongue, lips, or throat.
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There are also these serious side effects that make it necessary to call a doctor:
- Swelling of the hands and feet
- Slow heartbeat
- Blistering skin rash
- Fast or pounding heartbeat
- Dizziness or fainting
- Sore throat, fever, swelling of the skin or tongue, skin pain, or burning of the eyes followed by a red or purple skin rash that might spread to the upper body or face
- Jaundice or yellowing of the skin
- Upper stomach pain
- Loss of appetite
- Dark urine
- Clay-colored stools
Dilacor XR could interact with other medications, RxList reports. Patients should tell a doctor about drugs and supplements they are currently taking. The blood pressure medication may pass into breast milk to harm a baby, so women need to consult with a doctor when they consider breastfeeding.
Healthline advises to avoid taking Dilacor XR with whole fruits or juices and extracts, particularly grapefruits, as "grapefruit products interfere with the normal excretion of the medication, [which] could be potentially dangerous if large amounts of the drug accumulate in your body."
Smoking while taking Dilacor XR can produce also the added side effect of a "rapid heartbeat."
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