What is Cartia Used for

Cartia XT is a brand name for diltiazem hydrochloride, a calcium channel blocker medication. This type of drug slows the rate of calcium entry into the heart and blood vessels, which helps blood vessels relax and improves blood flow.

High Blood Pressure

• Doctors mainly prescribe Cartia XT to lower high blood pressure. This can reduce the risk of stroke, heart attack, congestive heart failure and kidney problems.

Stable Angina

• Cartia also is prescribed to treat stable angina, a condition causing pain when the heart works harder than usual, such as during exercise. This type of angina usually disappears a few minutes after the patient takes Cartia.

Variant Angina

• People who experience variant angina also can benefit from Cartia. This type of angina is caused by spasms in heart arteries and usually occurs during rest.

Unstable Angina

• Although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved Cartia for use in treating the third type of angina, unstable angina, a dose of Cartia is generally recommended while the patient obtains emergency medical attention. Unstable angina might be signaling an upcoming heart attack, and Cartia can temporarily stabilize the situation.

Irregular Heart Rhythm

• Another unapproved use for Cartia is for helping people with atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter and other types of heart arrhythmias.

Migraines and Kidney Disorders

• Doctors sometimes prescribe Cartia for off-label uses of relieving the pain of migraine headaches and improving diabetic nephropathy, or kidney problems in people with diabetes.