Let's take a minute to talk about your medication. 

This is diltiazem. It can help you have less 'angina', which is a type of chest pain.  This medicine may have other uses, too.

Diltiazem is often taken before meals and at bedtime. You should take it exactly as your doctor tells you to. You should swallow the tablet whole. Do not crush, chew or cut it.

Most people tolerate this medicine well. Common side effects include a headache or nausea. Dizziness can occur. To reduce this, you should stand up slowly after sitting or lying down. You should wait until you know how this medicine affects you before doing things that require you to be alert, like driving. These effects are normal if they are mild, and should go away. Tell your doctor if you have swelling in your ankles. If these or other effects become reasons you want to stop taking this medicine, please talk to your doctor or pharmacist. 

As with any medicine, rare but more serious side effects can occur. With diltiazem, these include an allergic reaction, and changes to the skin -- like a rash, blisters, small red dots, or bruising. Others include fainting, low blood pressure, and a heartbeat that is slow or uneven. You should call your doctor right away if you notice these or other unusual changes to your body. 

Drug interactions can occur. You should talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medicines and before drinking alcohol.

Women should talk to their doctors before becoming pregnant or breastfeeding.

For best results with diltiazem, set an alarm to remind you when your doses are due. Also, ask your doctor if you should check your own blood pressure and heart rate.