Daily Column

DEAR DR. GOTT:
For the past 10 or 12 years I have been on diltiazem for high blood pressure.

I read in a book that this medication can cause liver damage but my doctor does not want me to change to a different drug. He says I have an irregular heart beat and this drug is best for my condition. I recently had a CT scan done and he says everything looks normal.

Is there something else you would recommend that would be safer to take and still be suitable for me?

DEAR READER:
Cardizem (diltiazem) is a calcium channel blocker used to treat hypertension and certain other cardiac disorders. It has also been shown to increase exercise tolerance for individuals with angina (heart pain). [Read more...]