diltiazem vs propranolol
Side-by-side comparison of diltiazem and propranolol. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
minor Known Drug Interaction
Co-administration of propranolol and diltiazem in patients with cardiac disease has been associated with bradycardia, hypotension, high-degree heart block, and heart failure.
Recommendation: Your doctor will need to check your heart rate and blood pressure regularly. Tell your doctor if you feel dizzy or short of breath.
Cardizem, Tiazac
Inderal
Diltiazem is a medicine that helps lower high blood pressure and prevent chest pain. It belongs to a class of drugs called calcium channel blockers.
Propranolol is a medicine that can help with high blood pressure, chest pain, and other conditions. It works by blocking the effects of certain natural chemicals in your body, like adrenaline, that affect the heart and blood vessels.
Diltiazem is used to treat high blood pressure. It can be used alone or with other blood pressure medicines. Diltiazem also helps manage chronic stable angina (chest pain) and angina caused by spasms in the heart's blood vessels.
Propranolol tablets can treat high blood pressure. It can be used alone or with other medicines. Propranolol can also help with chest pain (angina), control fast heart rate with atrial fibrillation, improve survival after a heart attack, prevent migraine headaches, and reduce tremors. It can also help with symptoms of some tumors.
Diltiazem works by relaxing blood vessels, which lowers blood pressure. It also reduces the heart's workload, which can prevent chest pain. This medicine blocks calcium from entering heart and blood vessel cells.
Propranolol is a beta-blocker. It works by blocking the effects of adrenaline on your heart and blood vessels. This helps to slow down your heart rate and lower your blood pressure.
- • Swelling in your ankles or feet
- • Headache
- • Dizziness
- • Slow heart rate
- • Constipation
- • Tiredness
- • Dizziness
- • Nausea
- • Vomiting
- • Diarrhea
- Shortness of breath 3,200
- Tiredness 2,637
- Feeling sick to your stomach 2,372
- Discomfort 2,364
- Feeling lightheaded 2,089
- Feeling sick to your stomach 4,279
- Pain in your head 3,784
- Feeling very tired 3,752
- Loose, watery stools 3,121
- Feeling lightheaded or unsteady 3,102
Diltiazem can interact with other heart medications. Tell your doctor if you take beta-blockers or digoxin. Using diltiazem with these drugs can cause heart problems. Your doctor may need to adjust your dosages.
Propranolol is contraindicated in people with cardiogenic shock, very slow heart rate, asthma, or those who are allergic to it.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. It is not known if diltiazem will harm your unborn baby. Diltiazem passes into breast milk, so talk to your doctor about breastfeeding while taking this medicine.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Propranolol may affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking propranolol during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
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How to Read This diltiazem vs propranolol Comparison
diltiazem is classified in the Calcium Channel Blocker drug class, while propranolol sits within the Non-Selective Beta-Blocker class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, diltiazem has 12,662 submissions while propranolol has 18,038. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to both drugs slow down the heart and lower blood pressure. taking them together can cause the heart to beat too slowly or lead to heart failure.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between diltiazem and propranolol - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.