General Information and Indications:
Verapamil is used to treat irregular
heartbeats (arrhythmias) and high blood pressure. It relaxes your blood
vessels so your heart does not have to pump as hard. It also increases the
supply of blood and oxygen to the heart to control chest pain (angina). If
taken regularly, verapamil controls chest pain, but it does not stop chest
pain once it starts. Your doctor may give you a different medication to take
when you have chest pain.
Information For Users:
Verapamil comes as a regular tablet and as an
extended-release (long-acting) tablet and capsule to take by mouth. The
regular tablet is usually taken three times a day. The extended-release
tablet and capsule are usually taken one or two times a day and should be
swallowed whole. Do not chew, divide, or crush the extended-release tablet
or capsule. Follow the directions on your prescription label, ask your
doctor or pharmacist If you have any questions. Take verapamil exactly as
directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than
prescribed by your health care provider.
Verapamil controls arrhythmias, high blood pressure, and chest pain (angina)
but does not cure them. Continue taking verapamil even if you feel well. Do
not discontinue taking verapamil without informing your doctor.
Other uses for this medicine
Verapamil is also used sometimes to treat migraine headaches and
cardiomyopathy. Talk to your doctor about the possible risks of using this
medication.
special precautions:
o Inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have allergy to
verapamil or any other medications.
o Inform your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription
medications you are taking, especially aspirin, carbamazepine (Tegretol);
cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune); fentanyl (Duragesic); heart and blood
pressure medications such as beta-blockers, digoxin (Lanoxin), disopyramide
(Norpace), flecainide (Tambocor), quinidine (Quinaglute, Quinidex),
diuretics ('water pills'), or any other blood pressure lowering medication;
lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid); medications to treat depression; medications
to treat glaucoma (increased pressure in the eye); phenobarbital; rifampin (Rifadin,
Rimactane); theophylline (Theo-Dur); and vitamins.
o inform your doctor if you are breast-feeding heart, liver, or kidney
disease, muscular dystrophy, or gastrointestinal obstruction (strictures).
o Inform your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are
breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking verapamil, call your
doctor.
o if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, Inform your doctor or
dentist that you are taking verapamil.
o you should know that verapamil may increase the effects of alcohol and
make them last longer.
Possible Adverse
Effects:
Though adverse effects of verapamil are not common, they
could occur. Inform your doctor if any of the following symptoms are severe
or do not go away:
o constipation
o lightheadedness or dizziness
o headache
o upset stomach
o heartburn
o extreme tiredness (fatigue)
o flushing
o slow heartbeat
o vivid, unusual dreams
If you have any of the following symptoms, call your doctor without delay:
o swelling of the face, eyes, lips, tongue, arms, or legs
o difficulty swallowing or breathing
o fainting
o rash
o yellowing of the skin or eyes, jaundice
o fever
o increase in frequency or severity of chest pain (angina)
Brand Name(s):
o Calan®
o Calan® SR Caplets®
o Covera-HS®
o Isoptin® SR
o Verelan®
o Verelan® PM |
