Verapamil

Description

Drug Uses

Verapamil is used for treatment of supraventricular tachycardia, a rhythm disturbance of the heart. It is also used for controlling heart rate response to other rhythm disturbances, specifically atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

How Taken

Use Verapamil as directed by your doctor.

Warnings/Precautions

Before taking Verapamil, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if you have allergies to medicines, if you are allergic to any ingredient in Verapamil, if you have heart failure or a recent heart attack with lung congestion, low blood pressure, heart problems, including a very slow heart rate, or heart valve disease, have kidney or liver disease, muscular dystrophy, or neurologic disease, if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or are breast–feeding. If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Verapamil while you are pregnant. Verapamil is found in breast milk. Do not breast–feed while taking Verapamil. Some medicines may interact with Verapamil. Therefore tell your doctor of all prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement that you are taking. Do not use Verapamil if you have certain heart conditions (eg, sick sinus syndrome or second– or third–degree heart block and do not have a pacemaker) or very low blood pressure, have atrial fibrillation or flutter and a pre–excitation syndrome (extra conduction pathway in the heart) such as Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome (WPW) or Lown–Ganong–Levine syndrome (LGL) or if you are taking dofetilide or eletriptan. Verapamil may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting, alcohol, hot weather, exercise, or fever may increase these effects. To prevent them, sit up or stand slowly, especially in the morning. Sit or lie down at the first sign of any of these effects. Lab tests, including liver function, kidney function, complete blood count, ECG, and blood pressure, may be performed while you use Verapamil. These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments. Elderly patients may be more sensitive to the effects of Verapamil and might require a lower dose. Verapamil should not be used in children. Safety and effectiveness in children have not been confirmed.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose take it as soon as you remember. However if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the Missed Dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

Possible Side Effects

Some of the Possible Side Effects are– Dizziness, fatigue, headache, lightheadedness. Contact your doctor if any of these or other side effects occur. If you experience any of the following serious side effects, you should seek medical attention immediately– allergic reactions (rash, hives, itching, difficulty breathing, tightness in the chest, swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue), chest pain, lightheadedness, especially upon standing, severe dizziness, shortness of breath, swelling of feet or hands, unusually fast, slow or irregular heartbeat.

Storage

Store Verapamil at 59 to 86 °F (15 to 30 °C). Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Verapamil out of the reach of children.

Overdose

If overdose is suspected seek medical attention immediately. Some of the symptoms of Verapamil overdose are– decreased mental status, dizziness, loss of consciousness, shortness of breath, slow or irregular heartbeat.

More Information

Verapamil may cause dizziness. These effects may worsen if Verapamil is taken with alcohol or certain other medications. Use Verapamil with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to this drug. If your symptoms do not improve or if they worsen, contact your doctor. Verapamil should be used only by the patient for whom it has been prescribed. Do not take less or more or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Disclaimer

This is only general information, it does not cover all directions, drug integrations or precautions. You should not rely on it for any purpose, it does not contain any specific instructions for a particular patient. We disclaim all responsibility for the accuracy and reliability of this information. We`re not responsible for any damage.