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diltiazem vs tacrolimus topical

Side-by-side comparison of diltiazem and tacrolimus topical. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

moderate Known Drug Interaction

Mild or Moderate CYP3A Inhibitors: Clotrimazole, antibiotics (e.g., verapamil, diltiazem, nifedipine, nicardipine), amiodarone, danazol, ethinyl estradiol, cimetidine, lansoprazole and omeprazole May increase tacrolimus whole blood trough concentrations and increase the risk of serious adverse reactions (e.g., neurotoxicity, QT prolongation) [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.7 , 5.10 , 5.11 )] .

Recommendation: Your doctor may need to adjust your dosage and monitor your blood levels frequently to ensure your safety.

Drug Class
diltiazem Calcium Channel Blocker
tacrolimus topical Calcineurin Inhibitor (Topical)
Type
diltiazem Prescription
tacrolimus topical Prescription
Summary
diltiazem

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.

tacrolimus topical

Tacrolimus extended-release capsules help prevent organ rejection in kidney transplant patients. It works by suppressing your immune system.

What It Treats
diltiazem

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.

tacrolimus topical

This medicine is used to prevent your body from rejecting a new kidney after a transplant. It is for adult patients who can swallow capsules whole. You will take it with other medicines that also suppress your immune system.

How It Works
diltiazem

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.

tacrolimus topical

Tacrolimus belongs to a class of drugs called calcineurin inhibitors. It lowers the activity of your immune system. This helps prevent your body from attacking your new kidney.

Common Side Effects
diltiazem
  • Swelling in your ankles or feet
  • Headache
  • Dizziness
  • Slow heart rate
  • Constipation
tacrolimus topical
  • Diarrhea
  • Constipation
  • Nausea
  • Swelling in your arms and legs
  • Tremors
FAERS Reports
diltiazem
  • Shortness of breath 3,200
  • Tiredness 2,637
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 2,372
  • Discomfort 2,364
  • Feeling lightheaded 2,089
tacrolimus topical

No adverse event reports.

Serious Warnings
diltiazem

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.

tacrolimus topical

This medicine can increase your risk of serious infections and certain cancers. These problems could lead to hospitalization or even death. This drug is not approved for liver transplants and may increase the risk of death in female liver transplant patients.

Pregnancy
diltiazem

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.

tacrolimus topical

Tacrolimus can harm your unborn baby. Tell your doctor right away if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. There is a pregnancy registry to track outcomes in women who take tacrolimus during pregnancy.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This diltiazem vs tacrolimus topical Comparison

diltiazem is classified in the Calcium Channel Blocker drug class, while tacrolimus topical sits within the Calcineurin Inhibitor (Topical) 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 tacrolimus topical has 0. 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 moderate interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to diltiazem interferes with the way your body processes tacrolimus, which can cause the drug to build up and increase the risk of heart or nerve problems.. 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 tacrolimus topical - 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.