Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: CARDIZEM LA versus DILT CD.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: CARDIZEM LA versus DILT CD.
CARDIZEM LA vs DILT-CD
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
Cardizem LA (diltiazem) is a calcium channel blocker that inhibits calcium ion influx across cardiac and smooth muscle cells during depolarization, leading to negative inotropic, chronotropic, and dromotropic effects. It dilates coronary and peripheral arteries, reducing systemic vascular resistance and myocardial oxygen demand.
Diltiazem inhibits calcium ion influx during depolarization of cardiac and vascular smooth muscle cells, thereby reducing intracellular calcium levels. It decreases sinoatrial and atrioventricular nodal conduction and dilates coronary and peripheral arteries.
Oral, 180-360 mg once daily; initiate at 180 mg once daily, titrate to 240 mg, then 300 mg, then 360 mg once daily as needed.
180-360 mg PO once daily (extended-release); 300-540 mg PO once daily for hypertension; 120-480 mg PO once daily for angina; IV: 0.25 mg/kg bolus over 2 min, then 5-15 mg/hr continuous infusion.
None Documented
None Documented
Terminal elimination half-life: 5-8 hours after oral administration. For extended-release formulations, the half-life is similar but the prolonged absorption phase results in sustained plasma concentrations.
Terminal elimination half-life 7-10 hours; clinically relevant in hepatic impairment (prolonged to 14-20 hours) and in elderly
Urine (2-4% unchanged, ~40% as metabolites); bile/feces (major route, ~60% as metabolites).
Renal 2-4% unchanged; extensive hepatic metabolism; 60-70% fecal, 30-40% renal as metabolites
Category C
Category C
Calcium Channel Blocker
Calcium Channel Blocker