Medication Focus: Diltiazem (Cardizem)

[WAS967 97]

I found the following article while doing some brushing up on my knowledge of Cardizem. With Cardizem administration now being standing order in the Westchester region, it only makes sense that we, as ALS providers, become intimately familiar with it's effects and actions (if we aren't already) since we now have the greater responsibility of being able to administer it without a verbal order.

http://www.emsresponder.com/print/Emergenc...zem/1$3822

[ny10570 745]

FDNY lost Cardizem when our supplier stopped making a lyophilized version. Since we lack refrigeration and don't have an active stock to rotate out of like the hospital based units the liquid version has been found to not be cost effective. Just curious as to what you guys use up here.

[LCFD994 8]

We are using the liquid version now. The refrigerators at the stations were modified to have a"lock box" and the stock is kept in there. We place one vial out in the medic bags, at a time, and replace it every 30 days. It does have a shelf life of 30 days if not refrigerated. Seems to be working fine, not that we use it all of the time. This solution may not work everywhere but it is working here.

[Guest]

What does this drug do?

[ny10570 745]

It is a calcium channel blocker commonly used in the pre-hospital setting to treat rapid afib, atrial flutter and SVT. These are all dangerous arrhythmias that originate in atria of the heart.