The present invention relates to novel carboxamide compounds and their use for the manufacture of a medicament. The carboxamide compounds are inhibitors of calpain (calcium dependant cysteine proteases). The invention therefore also relates to the use of these carboxamide compounds for treating a disorder associated with an elevated calpain activity. The carboxamide compounds are compounds of the general formula (I) in which R1, R2, R3, R4, X, m and n have the meanings mentioned in the claims and the description, the tautomers thereof, the hydrates thereof and the pharmaceutically suitable salts thereof. Of these compounds those are preferred wherein R1 is optionally substituted benzyl or hetaryl-methyl, X is a single bond or an oxygen atom, R2 is C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-haloalkyl, C2-C4-alkenyl, C3-C6-cycloalkyl, C3-C6-cycloalkyl-C1-C2-alkyl, C3-C6-heterocycloalkyl-C1-C2-alkyl, phenyl, phenyl-C1-C3-alkyl, pyridin-2-yl-C1-C3-alkyl or CH2—C(O)OCH3, R3 and R4 independently of one another are halogen, CN, CF3, CHF2, CH2F, C1-C2-alkyl or C1-C2-alkoxy, and m and n independently of one another are 0 or 1.