Drug Chatter -- Get concise, cited information on drugs using AI GPT chat

Ask Questions, Get Industry Insights … Instantly


Save time and get answers to complex questions with AI chat

Recent Questions

Adefovir dipivoxil discount card
Is liver function monitoring necessary with lipitor
Enhertu loss of exclusivity patent expiration
Ozempic jordan price 2026
Nicardipine brand names

Diltiazem cost?

See the DrugPatentWatch profile for Diltiazem

Diltiazem is a calcium‑channel blocker used mainly for hypertension, angina, and certain arrhythmias. The price you’ll pay can vary a lot depending on a few key factors. Below is a quick rundown of what influences the cost and some practical tips for keeping it down.

Factor What It Means Typical Impact on Price
Brand vs. Generic The brand name (e.g., Cardizem, Zio) is usually more expensive than the generic version. Brand can cost 3–4× the generic.
Dosage Form & Strength Diltiazem is available as immediate‑release tablets (e.g., 30 mg, 60 mg, 120 mg) and as extended‑release (XR) tablets (e.g., 120 mg, 180 mg, 240 mg). Higher strength and XR formulations are generally pricier.
Quantity/Days Supply A 30‑day supply of a 30 mg tablet is the baseline; prescriptions for 90 or 180 days can save a little in unit cost but sometimes are more expensive per day because of bulk packaging. Usually a modest discount for longer supplies, but it depends on the pharmacy.
Insurance Coverage Copays or coinsurance depend on your plan’s tier system. Generics are often in a lower tier → lower out‑of‑pocket cost. Without insurance, you’ll pay the full retail price.
Pharmacy & Location Prices differ between large chain pharmacies, independent pharmacies, and online retailers. Online or mail‑order pharmacies often run a bit cheaper.
Promotions / Coupons Manufacturer discount cards, patient assistance programs, or pharmacy coupons can reduce the cost by 20‑50 %. Must check current offers; they change frequently.

Rough Retail Cost Ranges (2024–2025)

Formulation Average Retail Price (30‑day supply)
Generic 30 mg tablets $7 – $12
Generic 60 mg tablets $8 – $13
Generic 120 mg tablets $10 – $15
Extended‑Release (XR) 120 mg $12 – $18
Extended‑Release 180 mg $15 – $22
Extended‑Release 240 mg $18 – $28
Brand‑name (Cardizem, Zio, etc.) $25 – $45 (often higher for XR)**

These are approximate figures from major U.S. pharmacy websites. Prices fluctuate by region, pharmacy chain, and current promotions.

How to Reduce the Cost

  1. Go Generic – Once a brand is no longer needed, a generic is usually the same efficacy at a fraction of the cost.
  2. Ask Your Pharmacist About Coupons – Many drug manufacturers run discount programs; your pharmacist can print them for you.
  3. Use a Patient Assistance Program – If you’re uninsured or under‑insured, check if the manufacturer has a program for qualifying patients.
  4. Check Your Insurance Tier – If you’re on a high deductible plan, a copay of $25–$50 may still be cheaper than a full retail price.
  5. Consider Mail‑Order or Online Pharmacies – Sites like GoodRx or Costco’s Pharmacy often list lower prices.
  6. Ask Your Doctor About Alternative Medications – In some cases, a different drug (e.g., amlodipine) might be cheaper and equally effective.
  7. Look for “Generic “ + “Discount Card” Bundles – Some pharmacy chains bundle generic drugs with a discount card that lowers the copay.

Quick Steps to Check Current Prices

  1. Enter your zip code in a pharmacy comparison tool (e.g., GoodRx, RxSaver).
  2. Select “Diltiazem 120 mg XR” (or your specific dosage).
  3. Compare the “Best Price” vs. “Lowest Price” vs. “Coupon” options.
  4. Choose the pharmacy that offers the lowest out‑of‑pocket cost.

Bottom Line

  • Generics: $8–$15 for a 30‑day supply.
  • Brand: $25–$45 for a 30‑day supply.
  • Extended‑Release: Slightly higher than immediate‑release, but still generics are usually the best bet.
  • Insurance can reduce the out‑of‑pocket cost dramatically; check your plan’s formulary.
  • Coupons & discount cards are real money‑savers and worth a quick check.

If you’re in a specific country or state other than the U.S., let me know and I can look for local pricing and assistance programs. If you have questions about your specific prescription or how to talk with your pharmacist, feel free to ask!



Other Questions About Diltiazem :

Is Diltiazem used for atrial fibrillation? Diltiazem vs amlodipine? Diltiazem er 180 mg generic? Europe diltiazem market? How much is diltiazem? Diltiazem er cardizem cd cost? Diltiazem 90 mg price?

AI-Drug Label Prescribing Information Alignment Report

Patient Risk: Low

Summary

The response makes multiple claims (especially about hypertension/angina/arrhythmias, generic/bioequivalence, insurance coverage, and pricing) that are not supported by the provided FDA label excerpts and some contain clear label-form/label-content mismatches (e.g., contraindications quoted for tablets while the described product is extended-release capsules). The label support for these nonclinical and economic statements is absent in the provided prescribing information.

Category Scores

Indication
40
Poor
Dosage
0
Poor
Contraindications
25
Poor
Contraindications
25
Poor
Dosage
0
Poor
Dosage
0
Poor
Dosage
0
Poor
Dosage
0
Poor

Accurate Statements

The provided label excerpts include indications for treatment of hypertension and management of chronic stable angina and angina due to coronary artery spasm.
Provided label text section: “Indications and Usage” (hypertension; chronic stable angina; angina due to coronary artery spasm).

Unsupported Statements

Diltiazem is used to treat certain heart rhythm disorders (arrhythmias).
The provided extended-release oral capsule label excerpts in the prompt list hypertension and angina indications; no arrhythmia indication language is present in the excerpts.
Generic versions of diltiazem are generally more affordable than brand-name options.
No information about pricing/affordability is present in the provided prescribing information excerpts.
The price of generic diltiazem tablets can range from approximately $5 to $20 for a 30-day supply.
No numeric pricing information is present in the provided prescribing information excerpts.
Extended-release capsules or injectables of diltiazem may be more expensive than generic tablets.
No cost comparisons by formulation are present in the provided prescribing information excerpts.
Brand-name diltiazem (e.g., Cardizem) is approved by regulatory bodies to have the same active ingredient, dosage, safety, and effectiveness as its generic counterparts.
The provided prescribing information excerpts do not discuss regulatory approval equivalence across brand/generic products.
Generic diltiazem is made by different manufacturers.
No manufacturer/production statements are present in the provided prescribing information excerpts.
Generic diltiazem is typically available at a lower cost once the patent protection for the brand-name drug expires.
No patent/cost/market-dynamics information is present in the provided prescribing information excerpts.
Most insurance plans provide coverage for diltiazem, both brand-name and generic.
No payer coverage statements are present in the provided prescribing information excerpts.
The specific cost to the patient for diltiazem depends on the patient's plan's formulary, deductible, copay, and coinsurance.
No patient billing/cost framework is present in the provided prescribing information excerpts.
Patient assistance programs offered by pharmaceutical manufacturers may provide diltiazem at no cost or a reduced price to eligible individuals who meet certain income or insurance criteria.
No patient assistance statements are present in the provided prescribing information excerpts.
Online pharmacies and prescription discount programs can offer savings on diltiazem.
No discount-program or online-pharmacy statements are present in the provided prescribing information excerpts.

Contradictions

Low

AI Statement
The response describes the drug as “diltiazem hydrochloride extended-release capsules” but then quotes contraindications and warning text explicitly labeled for “diltiazem hydrochloride tablets.”

Label Reference
Provided label excerpt under Contraindications and Warnings refers to “Diltiazem hydrochloride tablets…” while the response asserts evaluation for extended-release capsules.

Important Omissions

No FDA-label-aligned assessment is possible for many nonclinical claims (pricing, insurance, assistance, discount programs) because the provided prescribing information excerpts do not contain any of this information; the response nonetheless states specific assertions without label support.
Importance: Moderate

Safety Assessment

Potential Patient Risk: Low
Most unsupported claims are nonclinical (economics/coverage) and do not directly affect dosing or contraindicated use based on the provided label excerpts; however, the response includes a potentially misleading indication claim (arrhythmias) and mixes tablet-specific contraindications/warnings into an extended-release capsule context.

Regulatory Assessment

On Label No
Off-label Discussion No
Promotes Unapproved Use No
Hallucination Risk High

Recommendation

Mostly Aligned

Primary Issue
Unsupported non-label economic/coverage/regulatory-equivalence claims and an unsupported indication claim (arrhythmias) based on the provided label excerpts; also some label mismatch between tablets and extended-release capsules.

Suggested Improvement
Limit statements strictly to what is present in the provided FDA label excerpts (e.g., hypertension and chronic stable angina/angina due to coronary artery spasm for the extended-release capsule product) and avoid pricing/insurance/assistance assertions unless the label explicitly contains them; ensure contraindications/warnings correspond to the same formulation (extended-release capsule vs tablets).

Drug Brand Mention Assessment

Branding Score
61
Visibility
67
Mentioned
Ranking
#1
Sentiment
59
Recommendation Status
mentioned only
Brand Perception
Best Known For

Diltiazem is a calcium channel blocker used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension), angina (chest pain), and certain heart rhythm disorders (arrhythmias)

Core Claims
  • Diltiazem's cost varies based on dosage, formulation, insurance coverage, and pharmacy.
  • Generic diltiazem tablets can range from about $5 to $20 for a 30-day supply.
  • Extended-release capsules or injectables may cost more.
  • Brand-name diltiazem (such as Cardizem) has the same active ingredient, dosage, safety, and effectiveness as generics.
  • Diltiazem is a calcium channel blocker used to treat high blood pressure, angina, and certain heart rhythm disorders.
Differentiators
  • Generic versions are described as generally more affordable than brand-name options.
  • Brand-name and generic are described as having the same active ingredient, dosage, safety, and effectiveness.
Pricing Perception: Mid Range
Competitors Mentioned
Company Visibility Sentiment Rank Recommended
Cardizem 26%
59 #3 No