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, R3a, R3b, W, Y and X have the meanings mentioned in the claims and the description, the tautomers thereof and the pharmaceutically suitable salts thereof. In particular, the compounds have the general formula I-A.a′ and I-A.a″ in which m, E, R1, R3a, R3b, R2, Ry, Rw and Rw6* have the meanings mentioned in the claims, n is 0, 1 or 2, the tautomers thereof and the pharmaceutically suitable salts thereof.