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Prescription medicine

Diltiazem Brand names: Cardizem, Tiazac, Tiadylt, Cartia, Matzim

Diltiazem (Cardizem) is a prescription medicine with an FDA approval on record since 1982. FDA's NDC Directory lists it from 50 generic labelers, and pharmacies paid $0.144 per diltiazem 24h ER(cd) 120 mg capsule in the October 7, 2026 NADAC survey.

  • Generic listed
  • A presentation discontinued

Check it at the source: the diltiazem FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 7, 2026, Bausch Health US, LLC); the NDA 18602 record on Drugs@FDA; every diltiazem label on DailyMed.

Highlights of the record

FDA label of August 7, 2026; NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA and Orange Book, October 8, 2026; NADAC October 7, 2026

Used for

From the label: indications and usage

Hypertension Tiazac is indicated for the treatment of hypertension.

Forms and strengths

  • 30 mg
  • 60 mg
  • 90 mg
  • 100 mg
  • 120 mg
  • 180 mg
  • 240 mg
  • 300 mg
  • 360 mg
  • 420 mg
  • 1 mg/ml
  • 5 mg/ml

Extended-release capsule; extended-release tablet; tablet; film-coated tablet; coated extended-release capsule.

On the market

Earliest approval on file
November 5, 1982 Cardizem, Bausch; Drugs@FDA’s file, where older or withdrawn approvals can be missing
Generic approvals
59 first November 5, 1992; 35 with a marketed status in Drugs@FDA
Labelers listed (NDC)
54 of which 50 under generic applications, 3 under brand applications, repackagers included

Supply and safety

Pharmacy cost (NADAC)
$0.144 per capsule Diltiazem 24h ER(cd) 120 mg capsule
Shortage (FDA)
None current 1 past records
Recalls by its makers (FDA)
29 since 2013 0 Class I among all firms' recalls; latest March 13, 2025; 10 more by firms not listed as its makers
FAERS reports
34,213 through July 30, 2026

What is diltiazem used for?

From the label: indications and usage

Hypertension Tiazac is indicated for the treatment of hypertension. It may be used alone or in combination with other antihypertensive medications. Chronic Stable Angina Tiazac is indicated for the treatment of chronic stable angina.

Conditions named in the indications of diltiazem's FDA labels, with every medicine labeled for each:

From other diltiazem labels

High blood pressure: INDICATIONS AND USAGE Hypertension Tiazac is indicated for the treatment of hypertension.

Atrial fibrillation: Atrial Fibrillation or Atrial Flutter Temporary control of rapid ventricular rate in atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter.

FDA pharmacologic class: Calcium Channel Blocker.

Source: FDA drug label (TIAZAC EXTENDED RELEASE), Bausch Health US, LLC, effective August 7, 2026 (SPL set c567fe7e-887e-4291-a0d1-2dd3f25cbf25), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed

Is there a generic for diltiazem (Cardizem)?

The FDA approved the first generic diltiazem on November 5, 1992. 59 generic applications are approved; 35 of them carry a current (not discontinued) marketing status in Drugs@FDA; that status is not evidence that the generic is on sale.

FDA's NDC Directory lists diltiazem from 50 labelers under a generic (ANDA) application and from 3 brand labelers. A listing means the company has registered the product for sale; it does not show that every pharmacy stocks it.

  • 1982 earliest approval on file
  • 1992 first generic approved
  • red ticks recalls

Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory and the Orange Book (openFDA bulk files, October 8, 2026)

What do pharmacies pay for diltiazem (Cardizem)?

In CMS's NADAC survey of October 7, 2026, pharmacies paid $0.144 per Diltiazem 24h ER(cd) 120 mg capsule, down 4% from $0.150 on October 8, 2025. Prices per unit in the table differ many-fold by strength, form and brand, so compare like with like. The chart's scale runs from the lowest to the highest price shown, not from zero. NADAC is what retail pharmacies paid their wholesalers, per unit, in CMS's monthly survey; what a patient pays depends on insurance and the pharmacy.

  • Diltiazem 24h ER(cd) 120 mg capsule (generic)
$0.181
$0.126
January 2024October 2026
NADAC per unit, October 7, 2026
Strength and formBrand or genericPharmacy cost30 tablets, or one pen or vial12-month change
Cartia xt 120 mg capsuleGeneric$0.144 per capsule$4.31-4%
Cartia xt 180 mg capsuleGeneric$0.187 per capsule$5.62+3%
Cartia xt 240 mg capsuleGeneric$0.197 per capsule$5.91-9%
Cartia xt 300 mg capsuleGeneric$0.302 per capsule$9.06+0.9%
Dilt XR 120 mg capsuleGeneric$0.311 per capsule$9.32-22%
Dilt XR 180 mg capsuleGeneric$0.366 per capsule$10.99-25%
Dilt XR 240 mg capsuleGeneric$0.489 per capsule$14.66-24%
Diltiazem 120 mg tabletGeneric$0.099 per tablet$2.97-9%
Diltiazem 12hr ER 120 mg capsuleGeneric$1.97 per capsule many times the lowest per-tablet cost; NADAC records the price, not why$59.11-19%
Diltiazem 12hr ER 60 mg capsuleGeneric$1.43 per capsule many times the lowest per-tablet cost; NADAC records the price, not why$42.80-2%
Diltiazem 12hr ER 90 mg capsuleGeneric$1.66 per capsule many times the lowest per-tablet cost; NADAC records the price, not why$49.84-8%
Diltiazem 24h ER(cd) 120 mg capsuleGeneric$0.144 per capsule$4.31-4%
Diltiazem 24h ER(cd) 180 mg capsuleGeneric$0.187 per capsule$5.62+3%
Diltiazem 24h ER(cd) 240 mg capsuleGeneric$0.197 per capsule$5.91-9%

Source: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC) survey, October 7, 2026: what retail pharmacies paid per unit; not a counter price

Is diltiazem in shortage?

No diltiazem presentation is listed as in shortage in the FDA Drug Shortage Database (read October 8, 2026); its 1 record is all marked to be discontinued, the latest updated January 5, 2026. ASHP keeps a separate shortage list, which can differ.

PresentationCompanyStatusUpdated
Diltiazem Hydrochloride, Injection, 100 mg Single Dose ADD-Vantage® Glass Vial (NDC 0409-4350-03)Hospira, Inc., a Pfizer CompanyTo Be DiscontinuedJanuary 5, 2026

Every diltiazem presentation in the FDA shortage database

Source: FDA Drug Shortage Database via openFDA, updated October 8, 2026

Has diltiazem been recalled?

The FDA's Enforcement Report lists 39 recalls naming diltiazem since 2013: 0 Class I (the most serious), 25 Class II, 14 Class III; 9 still ongoing. 10 of them are by firms that FDA's NDC Directory does not list as a maker of diltiazem and that hold no application for it in Drugs@FDA, such as compounding pharmacies or bulk-ingredient suppliers; the recall notice names the product recalled. A recall names products and lots, not every product of the medicine.

StartedClassCompanyReason
March 13, 2025Class IIGlenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc., USACGMP Deviations
November 1, 2024Class IIGlenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc., USAcGMP Deviations: Presence of N-nitroso-Desmethyl-Diltiazem impurity above FDA recommended interim limit.
April 17, 2024Class IIGlenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc., USAFailed Dissolution Specifications
March 26, 2024Class IIGlenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc., USAFailed Dissolution Specifications: Out of Specification (OOS) was reported in test of dissolution at the 12th month time point in long term stability study.
November 9, 2023Class IISCA Pharmaceuticals, LLCLack of Assurance of Sterility
August 17, 2023Class IICentral Admixture Pharmacy Services, Inc.Lack of Assurance of Sterility:Lack of validation data for sanitization cycles
July 14, 2023Class IICentral Admixture Pharmacy Services, Inc.Lack of assurance of sterility. Validation data for decontamination cycles is lacking.
January 13, 2023Class IISUN PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES INCFailed Impurity (Deacetyl Diltiazem Hydrochloride) specification during stability testing and failed dissolution testing at FDA laboratory.

Source: FDA Enforcement Report (drug recalls) via openFDA, through October 8, 2026

What does the diltiazem label say about other medicines?

The diltiazem label names 16 other medicines in its interaction, contraindication or warning sections. The labels of 50 other medicines name diltiazem. The sentences are the labels' own; a label lists what its studies and reports found, not every interaction.

Medicine namedSectionWhat the label says
Buspironedrug interactionsIn nine healthy subjects, diltiazem significantly increased the mean buspirone AUC 5.5-fold and C max 4.1-fold compared to placebo.
Carbamazepinedrug interactionsCarbamazepine: Concomitant administration of diltiazem with carbamazepine has been reported to result in elevated serum levels of carbamazepine (40% to 72% increase), resulting in toxicity in some cases.
Cimetidinedrug interactionsA study in six healthy volunteers has shown a significant increase in peak diltiazem plasma levels (58%) and AUC (53%) after a 1-week course of cimetidine 1200 mg/day and a single dose of diltiazem 60 mg. Ranitidine produced smaller, nonsignificant increases.
Clonidinedrug interactionsSinus bradycardia resulting in hospitalization and pacemaker insertion has been reported in association with the use of clonidine concurrently with diltiazem.
Cyclosporinedrug interactionsIn renal and cardiac transplant recipients, a reduction of cyclosporine dose ranging from 15% to 48% was necessary to maintain cyclosporine trough concentrations similar to those seen prior to the addition of diltiazem.
Digoxindrug interactionsAdministration of diltiazem hydrochloride with digoxin in 24 healthy male subjects increased plasma digoxin concentrations approximately 20%.
Ivabradinedrug interactionsConcurrent use of diltiazem increases exposure to ivabradine and may exacerbate bradycardia and conduction disturbances.
Lovastatindrug interactionsIn a ten-subject randomized, open-label, 4-way cross-over study, coadministration of diltiazem (120 mg BID diltiazem SR for 2 weeks) with a single 20 mg dose of lovastatin resulted in 3- to 4-fold increase in mean lovastatin AUC and C max versus lovastatin alone.
Midazolamdrug interactionsBenzodiazepines: Studies showed that diltiazem increased the AUC of midazolam and triazolam by 3- to 4-fold and the C max by 2-fold, compared to placebo.
Pravastatindrug interactionsIn the same study, there was no significant change in 20 mg single dose pravastatin AUC and C max during diltiazem coadministration.
Propranololdrug interactionsAdministration of diltiazem hydrochloride concomitantly with propranolol in five normal volunteers resulted in increased propranolol levels in all subjects and bioavailability of propranolol was increased approximately 50%.
Quinidinedrug interactionsDiltiazem significantly increases the AUC (0→∞) of quinidine by 51%, T ½ by 36%, and decreases its CL oral by 33%.
Ranitidinedrug interactionsA study in six healthy volunteers has shown a significant increase in peak diltiazem plasma levels (58%) and AUC (53%) after a 1-week course of cimetidine 1200 mg/day and a single dose of diltiazem 60 mg. Ranitidine produced smaller, nonsignificant increases.
Rifampindrug interactionsCoadministration of rifampin with diltiazem lowered the diltiazem plasma concentrations to undetectable levels.

Every other medicine the diltiazem label names

Medicine namedSectionWhat the label says
Simvastatindrug interactionsIn a healthy volunteer cross-over study (N=10), coadministration of a single 20 mg dose of simvastatin at the end of a 14-day regimen with 120 mg BID diltiazem SR resulted in a 5-fold increase in …
Triazolamdrug interactionsBenzodiazepines: Studies showed that diltiazem increased the AUC of midazolam and triazolam by 3- to 4-fold and the C max by 2-fold, compared to placebo.

Other labels that name diltiazem

Check diltiazem against other medicines

Source: FDA drug label (TIAZAC EXTENDED RELEASE), Bausch Health US, LLC, effective August 7, 2026 (SPL set c567fe7e-887e-4291-a0d1-2dd3f25cbf25), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed

What do FAERS reports show for diltiazem?

The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System holds 34,213 reports that list diltiazem among the medicines taken, through July 30, 2026, each a report of something that happened, not proof the medicine caused it; 5,131 are coded as a death and 14,554 as a hospital stay. Counts follow how widely a medicine is used and watched, and they are not a measure of how risky it is.

Reports received each year

The most reported reactions

  • Dyspnoea (named in the label)3,296
  • Fatigue2,725
  • Nausea (named in the label)2,440
  • Pain2,416
  • Dizziness (named in the label)2,161
  • Diarrhoea (named in the label)2,104
  • Drug Ineffective (a use or a product term, not a reaction)2,058
  • Headache (named in the label)2,011

Side effects: the label's list and every FAERS reaction

Source: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) via openFDA, reports through July 30, 2026

What else is labeled for the same conditions as diltiazem?

73 other medicines are given the same way (oral) and in the same FDA class as diltiazem or labeled mainly for the same use (high blood pressure), the same class first. High blood pressure lists all 88 medicines labeled for it, by any route. The first 8 are below. They are listed as records, not as substitutes: whether one can replace another is a prescriber's decision.

MedicineShared indicationGeneric labelers (oral)Pharmacy costShortage
AmlodipineHigh blood pressure, Angina42 labelers$0.0102 per tablet 5 mg tabletNo current entry
Amlodipine and benazeprilHigh blood pressure16 labelers$0.114 per unit 10-20 mgNo current entry
VerapamilHigh blood pressure, Atrial fibrillation, Angina24 labelers$0.191 per tablet 180 mg tabletA presentation being discontinued
Amlodipine and atorvastatinHigh blood pressure, Angina6 labelers$1.34 per unit 10-40 mgNo current entry
Amlodipine and olmesartanHigh blood pressure14 labelers$0.248 per unit 10-20 mgNo current entry
Amlodipine and hydrochlorothiazide and olmesartanHigh blood pressure8 labelers$0.776 per unit 20-5-12.5No current entry
Amlodipine and valsartanHigh blood pressure9 labelers$0.330 per unit 10-160 mgNo current entry
Amlodipine and hydrochlorothiazide and valsartanHigh blood pressure5 labelers$6.09 per tablet 10-160-25 mg tabletNo current entry

Every medicine labeled for the same conditions as diltiazem

Source: FDA drug labels (indications), NDC Directory, NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages (October 8, 2026)

How does diltiazem compare with medicines for the same use?

17 side-by-side pages set diltiazem beside a medicine whose label shares a use: approvals, generics, pharmacy cost, warnings and supply.

What next?

Alternatives to diltiazem
73 medicines for the same use
Other calcium channel blockers
the pharmacologic class, with prices and generics
Diltiazem side effects
the label's list beside FAERS reports
Diltiazem shortage record
every presentation, company and date
Check an interaction
what two or more labels say about each other