Verapamil is used in case of high blood pressure or angina. It can be taken alone or in combination with other medications to prevent and treat irregular heartbeat.
What is Verapamil?
Verapamil is a calcium channel blocker drug. It works by relaxing the blood vessels in order to reduce the workload for the heart. It also increases the flow of blood and oxygen to the heart and reduces its electrical activity, thus modulating the heart rate.
How should Verapamil be taken?
Verapamil can be taken as tablets and extended-release tablets.
The tablet dosage is typically 3-4 doses per day. The extended release formulations must instead be taken once or twice a day, by swallowing them without chewing or breaking them.
Relative to the product it may be more suitable to take it in the morning or before bedtime.
Side effects associated with Verapamil
Among the possible adverse effects of Verapamil are included:
- Constipation
- Heartburn
- Dizziness or feeling faint or lightheaded
- Headache
You should immediately contact a doctor if taking Verapamil triggers any of the following:
- Swelling in hands, feet, ankles or calves
- Difficulty breathing or swallowing
- Slow heartbeat
- Fainting
- Foggy vision
- Rash
- Nausea
- Excessive fatigue
- Bleeding or bruising
- Lack of energy
- Loss of appetite
- Pain in the upper right abdomen
- Jaundice
- Flu-like symptoms
- Fever
Contraindications and warnings associated with the use of Verapamil
Verapamil may increase or prolong the effects of alcohol consumption.
Moreover, before starting treatment with Verapamil, you must inform your doctor if:
- You have any allergy to the active substance or any other drug
- You are taking other medications, herbal remedies and supplements, citing in particular alpha blockers, antifungals, beta-blockers, carbamazepine, cimetidine, clarithromycin, cyclosporine, digoxin, disopramide, diuretics, erythromycin, flecainide, protease inhibitors taken against HIV, quinidine, lithium, antihypertensive, nefazodone, phenobarbital, pioglitazone, rifampin, telithromycin, theophylline and St. John's wort
- You suffer (or have suffered) from a narrowing of the digestive tract or blocks or any other problem that slows the movement of food, heart failure, heart, kidney or liver disease, muscular dystrophy or myasthenia gravis
- You are pregnant or breastfeeding
Lastly, you must inform surgeons and dentists about ongoing treatment with Verapamil prior to any procedure.
