My patient yesterday just before I was leaving was ordered to be put on a diltizem drip. She was having a fib and some low blood pressures.  I thought it was more for high blood pressures??

One of the main uses for diltiazem is for controlling the ventricular rate during a. fib.



Basically, as the atria fire rapidly the diltiazem blocks the AV node, a spot where electric impulses from the atria travel to the ventricles. Thus, it allows the ventricular rate to stay in control. While it may be used for blood pressure there are other drugs in the same class that are more effective in reducing blood pressure, such as amlopdipine or nifedipine.