Bckeyebaby Says:
What is the difference between diltiazem CD, diltiazem XR and diltiazem ER? Can you refer me to a website where I could research this information?
1
Verwon Says:
[Moderator]
Thursday, 10/29/2009 5:43:12 PM
There is no difference, it's just different abbreviations for the same thing, a time released version of the medication, some places will us CR, ER or XR, there is no definitive way that it has to be done.
Diltiazem is a calcium channel blocker used to treat hypertension and angina.
Not quite true. These are indeed all timed release versions of diltiazem, but they all use different drug delivery systems and are released into the body at different rates. You can verify this if you look at the professional write-ups on each drug. For example, diltiazem CD, which is generic for the drug Cardizem CD, reaches peak levels in the blood 10-12 hours after dosing, and there is no changes due to taking it with food. Diltiazem XR is generic for the less-common brand Dilacor XR, which is reaches peak levels in the blood in 3-5 hours. Absorption of this version is accelerated when it is taken with food. Then there is Cardizem LA (no generic available yet) which has an even longer absorption time than CD (supposedly a benefit if taken at bedtime, since it will have its peak effect in the morning when heart attacks are most common). And there are at least two more versions! To make things more common, some drugstores will list several different versions as diltiazem ER; you just have to ask which brand name it is equivalent to. To make things even MORE confusing, many of the generic versions have their OWN names for diltiazem!
Rick, thank you so much for posting those eye-opening details! You've helped to eliminate much confusion for me :) In case this helps anyone there are professional write ups available as Rick has stated for: Cardizem CD, Dilacor XR, Cardizem LA. Hope this helps!
Glad to help, Roy. I guess I should mention that the other common brand-name variety of extended release diltiazem is Tiazac, which has an intermediate peak absorption time -- longer than Dilacor XR, but shorter than Cardizem CD or LA (at least for regular Tiazac -- I'm not sure what the difference is between that and Tiazac XC). The last extended release version I know of is a twice-a-day formulation (I believe -- not sure -- that the brand name is Cardizem SR, and I'm not sure it's even made anymore). The question of whether this myriad of different formulations actually elicit significantly different responses in practice would depend on the physician you ask. No doubt some aren't even aware that there are differences between the various extended-release versions.
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