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Verapamil

Verapamil

November 24, 2019
Verapamil

Verapamil is a prescription drug for the treatment of heart disease such as:

  • High blood pressure
  • Prevention and long-term treatment of angina pectoris attack
  • Slowing down of abnormally fast heartbeats like atrial flutter/ fibrillation and supraventricular tachycardia

High blood pressure or hypertension is a common condition but when left untreated it can causes damages to the heart, brain, blood vessels, kidney and other organs of the body. Damages to these organs can cause stroke, heart failure, heart attack, loss of vision, kidney failure and other problems.

Verapamil belongs to the group of drug known as calcium channel blockers or CCBs. It acts on the heart and the blood vessels. It works by slowing down the movement of calcium into the muscles of the coronary arteries as well as other arteries of the body. Verapamil blocks the calcium channels on the muscle cells.

Calcium is needed by the muscle cells for contraction. Since it triggers contraction of the muscle, Verapamil blocks it entry causing the muscle cells that surrounds the arteries to relax. This allows the arteries to become large so more blood can flow through them. The relaxation of the muscle cells thus relieves pain from contraction, lowers the blood pressure and reduces the pressure against which the heart must pump blood. As a result, the heart won’t have to work so hard in pumping blood and requires less oxygen-carrying blood. Verapamil has other numerous physiologic effects like:

  • Decreased cardiac contractility
  • Slowed atrioventricular node contraction
  • Vasodilation of both peripheral and coronary arteries and arterioles
  • Depressed sinus node activity

Aside from the mentioned effects, Verapamil can also:

  • Increase the heart’s dependence on carbohydrate rather than on fatty acids
  • Interferes with the energy metabolism of cardiac cells
  • Inhibits the production of insulin by the pancreas

Because of its effect on the blood vessels and heart, Verapamil has an array of other uses:

  • Migraine prophylaxis
  • Cluster headache prophylaxis
  • Malignant refractory hypertension
  • Raynaud’s phenomenon

Buying Verapamil?

Verapamil is a potent calcium-channel blocker against heart disease. It’s well absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract and well-distributed throughout the body. It’s Food and Drug Administration approved for medical used since 1981 and is listed as one of the safest and most effective medication needed in the health system. Verapamil is sold as a generic version and various other brand names.

How to Take Verapamil?

Verapamil comes as in a tablet form that you need to take by mouth. Your dose is based on your condition. The recommended doses are as follows:

  • Angina Pectoris

Take 80mg to 160mh three times a day

  • Hypertension

Take 80mg to 320mg two times a day

  • Migraines

Take 169mg to 320mg three to four times a day.

Your doctor may start giving you a low dose. Take this it regularly as prescribed. Do not stop taking this medication without informing your doctor. If your condition does not get better, inform your doctor. Take it at around the same time each day. Do not take more or less than the recommended dose. Continue taking it even if you feel well. For a missed dose, take it as soon as you remember.

What are the side effects of Verapamil?

Verapamil may cause unwanted side effects aside from its intended effects. Common side effects are:

  • Muscle weakness
  • Dizziness
  • Fainting because of low blood pressure or slow heart rate
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Headache
  • Swelling of the ankle
  • Muscle and joint aches
  • Heart block
  • Low blood pressure or hypotension
  • Constipation

Serious side effects include:

  • Reversible enlargement of the breast in elderly men
  • Reversible enlargement of the gums with long0term use
  • Impotence
  • Allergic skin reaction
  • Impaired liver function

We care for your safety

  • Verapamil helps control high blood pressure, angina pectoris and arrhythmias but it does not cure the underlying condition.
  • Verapamil is not recommended for patients with heart failure and slow heart rate.
  • Pregnant women shouldn’t also take this drug as it is believed to cause problems for the baby during pregnancy. It should be avoided especially during the first trimester unless deemed necessary by your physician. Use this medication during breastfeeding only if considered essential.
  • This medication may cause mildly abnormal liver test. Abnormality in liver test will return to normal when medication is stopped.
  • Do not take this for treating angina pectoris attack
  • Use with care among patients with:
    • Slow heart rate
    • Decrease kidney function
    • Decrease liver function
    • Heart failure
    • Slowed conduction of electrical messages between the chambers of the heart
    • Myasthenia gravis
    • Lambert-Eaton syndrome
    • An Advanced Duchenne muscular dystrophy
  • Do not use in people who:
    • Have failure of the heart to maintain enough circulation of blood
    • Who have had a heart attack
    • Have serious defect in the heart’s electrical message pathway
    • Decreased function of the heart due to failure of the electrical impulses
    • Have sick sinus syndrome
    • Uncontrolled heart failure
    • Hereditary heart disorder known as porphyrias
    • Hereditary problems like fructose intolerance
  • Verapamil can cause unusually low blood pressure when used along with other antihypertensive medications. Low blood pressure can make you dizzy or faint, particularly when moving from a sitting, lying or standing position.22

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