Verapamil
(Verapamil)Verapamil Overview
Verapamil is used to treat high blood pressure. Lowering high blood pressure helps prevent strokes, heart attacks, and kidney problems. Verapamil belongs to a class of drugs known as calcium channel blockers. It works by relaxing blood vessels so blood can flow more easily. Verapamil is also used to prevent chest pain (angina). It may help to increase your ability to exercise and decrease how often you may get angina attacks. Verapamil is also used to control your heart rate if you have a fast/irregular heartbeat (such as atrial fibrillation). It helps to lower the heart rate, helping you to feel more comfortable and increase your ability to exercise.
How to Use Verapamil
Take Verapamil by mouth with or without food as directed by your doctor, usually 3 or 4 times daily. The Dosage of Verapamil is based on your medical condition and response to treatment. Use Verapamil regularly to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, take it at the same times each day. For the treatment of high blood pressure, it may take a week before you get the full benefit of Verapamil. Keep taking Verapamil even if you feel well. Most people with high blood pressure do not feel sick. To prevent chest pain, it is very important to take Verapamil regularly as prescribed. Verapamil should not be used to treat chest pain when it occurs. Use other medications to relieve sudden attacks as directed by your doctor (for example, nitroglycerin tablets placed under the tongue). Consult your doctor or pharmacist for details. Do not stop taking Verapamil without consulting your doctor. Some conditions may become worse when Verapamil is suddenly stopped. Your dose may need to be gradually decreased. Tell your doctor if your condition does not get better or if it gets worse (for example, your blood pressure readings remain high or increase or your chest pain occurs more often).
Verapamil Precautions
Before taking verapamil, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. Verapamil may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details. Before using Verapamil, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history,certain types of heart rhythm problems (such as second- or third-degree atrioventricular block, sick sinus syndrome unless you have a pacemaker, Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, Lown-Ganong-Levine syndrome), heart failure, certain muscle/nerve disorders (muscular dystrophy, myasthenia gravis), liver disease, kidney disease. Verapamil may make you dizzy. Alcohol or marijuana (cannabis) can make you more dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs alertness until you can do it safely. Limit alcoholic beverages. Talk to your doctor if you are using marijuana (cannabis). Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products). Older adults may be more sensitive to the side effects of Verapamil, especially constipation, or swelling ankles/feet. During pregnancy, Verapamil should be used only when clearly needed. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor. Verapamil passes into breast milk, but is unlikely to harm a nursing infant. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.
Verapamil Misdose
If you miss a dose of Verapamil, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose. Take your next dose at the regular time. Do not double the dose to catch up.
Verapamil Interactions
Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines without your doctor's approval.aliskiren, clonidine, disopyramide, dofetilide, fingolimod, lithium. Other medications can affect the removal of verapamil from your body, which may affect how verapamil works. Examples include erythromycin, rifamycins (such as rifampin), ritonavir, St. John's wort, among others. Verapamil can slow down the removal of other medications from your body, which may affect how they work. Examples of affected drugs include asunaprevir, colchicine, flibanserin, ivabradine, lomitapide, midazolam, triazolam, among others. Some products have ingredients that could raise your heart rate or blood pressure. Tell your pharmacist what products you are using, and ask how to use them safely (especially cough-and-cold products, diet aids, or NSAIDs such as ibuprofen/naproxen).
Verapamil Side Effects
Dizziness, slow heartbeat, constipation, nausea, headache, or tiredness may occur. If any of these effects last or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly. To lower your risk of dizziness and lightheadedness, get up slowly when rising from a sitting or lying position. Remember that Verapamil has been prescribed because your doctor has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using Verapamil do not have serious side effects. Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side effects,severe dizziness, fainting, new or worsening symptoms of heart failure (such as shortness of breath, swelling ankles/feet, unusual tiredness, unusual/sudden weight gain), very slow heartbeat. Verapamil may rarely cause serious (possibly fatal) liver disease. Get medical help right away if you have any symptoms of liver damage,nausea/vomiting that doesn't stop, loss of appetite, stomach/abdominal pain, yellowing eyes/skin, dark urine. A very serious allergic reaction to Verapamil is rare. However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction,rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing. This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or at www.fda.gov/medwatch. In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.
Verapamil Storage
Store at room temperature away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medications away from children and pets. Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard Verapamil when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company.
IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: All medical content is supplied by a third-party company who is independent from this web site. As such, this web site cannot guarantee the reliability, accuracy, and /or medical efficacy of the information provided. In all circumstances, you should seek the advice of a health professional pertaining to drug, treatment and/or medical condition advice. Note that not all products are shipped by our contracted Canadian pharmacy. This website contracts with dispensaries around the world that ship products directly to our customers. Some of the jurisdiction include but are not limited to United Kingdom, Europe, Turkey, India, Canada, Vanuatu, Mauritius, and USA. The items within your order may be shipped from any one of these jurisdictions depending on the availability and cost of the products at the time you place your order. The products are sourced from these countries as well as others. Please note that the product appearance may vary from actual product received depending on availability.