*Welcome to the OutUK series looking at gay men and their health brought to you in association with the NHS* website.**
	Each week we'll tackle a different topic in our A to Z of Gay Health. We'll have features and advice on everything from relationships, sexual health, mental and physical conditions and how to stay fit. You can follow any of links provided below for more information direct from the NHS website, or see this week's feature L: Laxatives.

Side Effects Of Diltiazem

NHS medicines information on side effects of diltiazem and what you can do to cope.

Like all medicines, diltiazem can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them.

Common side effects

These common side effects of diltiazem happen in more than 1 in 100 people. They are usually mild and will not last long. There are things you can do to help cope with them:

Speak to a doctor or pharmacist if the advice on how to cope does not help and a side effect is still bothering you or does not go away.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects after taking diltiazem are rare and happen in less than 1 in 10,000 people.

Stop taking diltiazem and call a doctor or call 111 now if:

you get severe pain in your stomach
the whites of your eyes turn yellow, or your skin turns yellow although this may be less obvious on brown or black skin - this can be a sign of liver problems
your heartbeat becomes noticeable (palpitations)

Call 999 or go to A&E now if:

you get chest pain that does not stop after a few minutes or is new or worse if you already have angina

Chest pain is a possible sign of a heart attack and needs to be checked out as soon as possible.

Serious allergic reaction

In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to diltiazem.

Other side effects

These are not all the side effects of diltiazem. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicine packet.

OutUK's A to Z of Gay Health continues and you can read this week's feature L: Laxatives. We have covered many subjects in this series and you can catch up with all of our Previous A to Z Features. If you want to find out more about this particular topic you can visit the Original article on the NHS website. If you are worried by any aspect of your health make sure you go and see your doctor or book an appointment at your local clinic.
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