Drug interactions
Calcium gluconate + Diltiazem
Severity: Moderate
Calcium gluconate and Diltiazem: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Intravenous calcium gluconate can reverse the cardiovascular effects of diltiazem, including hypotension and bradycardia or AV block. Oral use has a much smaller effect.
What this interaction means in plain words
Calcium gluconate and Diltiazem can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Calcium gluconate belongs to Gastrointestinal Tract; Diltiazem belongs to Cardiovascular.
Why it happens
Pharmacodynamic antagonism: increased extracellular calcium overcomes L-type calcium channel blockade.
What to do
Monitor blood pressure, heart rate and ECG when IV calcium is given to a patient taking diltiazem, and expect reduced diltiazem effect. Check serum calcium when using oral products chronically.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
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Other interactions of Diltiazem
- Diltiazem + Flibanserin Contraindicated
- Diltiazem + Ivabradine Contraindicated
- Diltiazem + Lomitapide Contraindicated
- Diltiazem + Lonafarnib Contraindicated
- Acebutolol + Diltiazem Major
- Alfentanil + Diltiazem Major
Other interactions of Calcium gluconate
- Calcium gluconate + Ceftriaxone Contraindicated
- Calcium gluconate + Digoxin Major
- Alendronate + Calcium gluconate Moderate
- Amlodipine-atorvastatin + Calcium gluconate Moderate
- Amlodipine-hydrochlorothiazide-valsartan + Calcium gluconate Moderate
- Amlodipine-olmesartan-hydrochlorothiazide + Calcium gluconate Moderate
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Calcium gluconate with Diltiazem?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Calcium gluconate and Diltiazem can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Intravenous calcium gluconate can reverse the cardiovascular effects of diltiazem, including hypotension and bradycardia or AV block. Oral use has a much smaller effect.
How serious is the interaction between Calcium gluconate and Diltiazem?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Monitor blood pressure, heart rate and ECG when IV calcium is given to a patient taking diltiazem, and expect reduced diltiazem effect. Check serum calcium when using oral products chronically.
What other medicines interact with Diltiazem?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Diltiazem with, for example, Flibanserin, Ivabradine, Lomitapide. The full list is on the Diltiazem page.
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