diltiazem hydrochloride for injection Contraindications

CONTRAINDICATIONS

Injectable forms of diltiazem are contraindicated in:

1. Patients with sick sinus syndrome except in the presence of a functioning ventricular pacemaker.
2. Patients with second- or third-degree AV block except in the presence of a functioning ventricular pacemaker.
3. Patients with severe hypotension or cardiogenic shock.
4. Patients who have demonstrated hypersensitivity to the drug.
5. Intravenous diltiazem and intravenous beta-blockers should not be administered together or in close proximity (within a few hours).
6. Patients with atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter associated with an accessory bypass tract such as in WPW syndrome or short PR syndrome.
   As with other agents which slow AV nodal conduction and do not prolong the refractoriness of the accessory pathway (e.g., verapamil, digoxin), in rare instances patients in atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter associated with an accessory bypass tract may experience a potentially life-threatening increase in heart rate accompanied by hypotension when treated with injectable forms of diltiazem. As such, the initial use of injectable forms of diltiazem should be, if possible, in a setting where monitoring and resuscitation capabilities, including DC cardioversion/defibrillation, are present (see OVERDOSAGE). Once familiarity of the patient's response is established, use in an office setting may be acceptable.
7. Patients with ventricular tachycardia. Administration of other calcium channel blockers to patients with wide complex tachycardia (QRS ≥ 0.12 seconds) has resulted in hemodynamic deterioration and ventricular fibrillation. It is important that an accurate pretreatment diagnosis distinguish wide complex QRS tachycardia of supraventricular origin from that of ventricular origin prior to administration of injectable forms of diltiazem.