Individuals taking a commonly prescribed medication have been urged to contact emergency services by dialing 111 if they experience specific symptoms. These “serious” side effects necessitate immediate medical attention.

The NHS website outlines that diltiazem is used to prevent chest pain from angina, reduce the frequency of Raynaud’s phenomenon attacks, and assist in healing anal fissures.

Like any medication, diltiazem can cause side effects, though not everyone will experience them. The NHS lists several “common” side effects that some individuals might encounter when using diltiazem.

These side effects appear in more than one in 100 users. According to the NHS, “They are typically mild and short-lived. There are measures you can take to manage them.”

• Swollen hands, ankles or feet
• Headaches
• Feeling dizzy and light-headed
• Feeling tired, weak and generally unwell
• Feeling hot (flushing) and redness of the skin
• Itching or burning on the skin where you use the cream or ointment
• Stomach pain
• Indigestion
• Constipation

The guidance advises, “Consult a doctor or pharmacist if recommended strategies do not alleviate the issue and a side effect continues to trouble you or persists.”

Serious side effects

Nonetheless, there are some “serious side effects” linked to diltiazem, which occur in less than one in 10,000 patients.

The NHS advises that you should “stop taking diltiazem and call a doctor or call 111 now” if:

• You experience severe stomach pain
• The whites of your eyes turn yellow, or your skin turns yellow although this may be less obvious on brown or black skin – this could indicate liver problems
• Your heartbeat becomes noticeable (palpitations)

Additionally, you should immediately dial 999 or head to A&E if you suffer from chest pain that persists for more than a few minutes or is new or worsens if you already have angina. This could potentially signal a heart attack and requires immediate medical attention.