Posted by Mark (209.226.122.20) on September 16, 2000 at 23:39:59:
In Reply to: EVER HEAR OF TIAZAC-(CHANNELBLOCKER)?? posted by kari on February 22, 1999 at 19:28:29:
Once again, I thought that I'd clear the air on the differences
between Tiazac (diltiazem HCl) and Chronovera (verapamil). In fact,
they are both used for angina and hypertension. Tiazac reduces your patients
heart rate (it does not increase your heart rate as someone mentioned previously)
while Chronovera tends to reduce it even more. This is not necessarily
a good thing as it can cause a condition called bradycardia (slow heart rate).
Also, Tiazac has fewer side effects and so tends to be favoured more often by
patients in most offices that I am aware of. In fact, I just read that diltiazem
of which Tiazac seems to be the most improved version) has been shown to reduce both
morbidity and mortality in comparison with beta blockers and diuretics: Lancet, August 2000.
This is HUGE. It clears the air for this type of medication and shows that diltiazem
is a very effective Calcium Channel Blocker and that it cannot be compared to the other
CCB's as it is a heart rate lowering medication. Other CCB's such as nifedipine and amlodipine
tend to increase the heart rate and are in a subclass called dihydropyridines.
FYI.