Has your doctor prescribed you a medicine called Verapamil for high blood pressure or chest pain (angina)? If so, it is very important to know exactly what this medicine is, how to use it, and what it can do. Because understanding a medicine when using it will help your health a lot. Let's talk about this simply, in a way that you can understand.
What kind of medicine is this? What does Verapamil actually do?
Simply put, Verapamil is a drug that relaxes your blood vessels, which reduces the workload on your heart. Just like a clogged water pipe makes it difficult for water to flow, when our blood vessels are clogged, our heart has to work harder to pump blood. What this drug does is widen those blood vessels and make it easier for blood to flow.
This provides two main advantages:
1. Controlling high blood pressure: When blood vessels dilate, blood pressure decreases.
2. Preventing Chest Pain (Angina): When blood flow to the heart is improved, the heart receives the oxygen it needs. This prevents chest pain (angina) caused by fatigue in the heart muscle.
In medicine, we call this group of drugs calcium channel blockers .
Things you need to tell your doctor before taking medicine
Before starting this medication, you should definitely talk to your doctor about these things. If you have these conditions, your doctor will need to be aware of them to determine the correct dosage.
- If you already have heart disease .
- If you have an irregular heartbeat.
- If you have low blood pressure .
- If you have liver disease .
- If you have a muscle disease like Duchenne muscular dystrophy .
- If you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant .
- If you are a breastfeeding mother .
- If you have previously had an allergic reaction to Verapamil or any other medicine, food, or dye.
It is very important for your own safety to tell the doctor this information without hiding it.
How exactly do I use this medicine?
To get the most out of a medication, you need to take it exactly as prescribed.
- Take this medicine with a meal .
- Get into the habit of taking your medicine at the same time every day. This will also reduce the chance of forgetting to take your medicine.
- Sometimes this tablet may have a score in the middle (scored tablet). If the tablet is too big, you can break it along the score and swallow it in two. But remember, if you break it like this, you need to swallow both halves. Just one piece is not enough.
- It is very important to avoid drinking grapefruit juice while taking this medication. Taking the two together can have an unwanted effect on the effectiveness of the medication.
- Continue taking the medicine until your doctor tells you to stop. Do not stop suddenly.
What to do if you take too much medicine?
If you think you have taken too much medicine, do not panic and immediately call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital . Or go to the Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) of the nearest hospital.
What if I miss a dose of medication?
If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the scheduled time. Never take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
Other things that may interact with this medicine
Verapamil can interact with some other medications, foods, and herbs. This means that taking it together with these things can change how Verapamil works or increase its side effects.
| Substance / drug type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Do not take these with anything. | |
| Grapefruit juice | Directly affects the action of the drug. |
| Some medications | Cisapride, Disopyramide, Dofetilide, Pimozide |
| Some herbs | Hawthorn, Red yeast rice |
| Interactions may also occur with these (only on medical advice) | |
| Other heart disease and high blood pressure medications | Medicines for heart rhythm disorders such as Amiodarone, Digoxin, and Flecainide. |
| Medications for seizures | Carbamazepine, Phenytoin |
| Some antibiotics and antifungals | Rifampin |
| Other medications | Cyclosporine, Lithium, Theophylline, Cimetidine |
This list is not complete. So tell your doctor about all the medications, vitamins, and herbal supplements you are taking. Also, tell your doctor if you smoke or drink alcohol.
What are the possible side effects of taking the medicine?
Like any medicine, Verapamil can cause side effects in some people. Some of these are serious, while others are common. The important thing is to be aware of these.
| Side effect | Description |
|---|---|
| Things to report to your doctor immediately | |
| Allergic reactions | Skin rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips or tongue. |
| Symptoms of heart failure | Difficulty breathing, swelling of the ankles, feet or hands, sudden weight gain, extreme fatigue. |
| Slow heartbeat | Dizziness, fainting, difficulty breathing. |
| Symptoms of liver injury | Pain in the upper right side of the abdomen, loss of appetite, dark yellow/brown urine, jaundice, yellowing of the skin or eyes. |
| Low blood pressure | Dizziness, fainting, blurred vision. |
| Usually not serious, but tell your doctor if it persists. | |
| Constipation | To avoid this situation, drink plenty of water and eat foods high in fiber. |
| Headache | It usually subsides within a few days. |
| Dizziness, Nausea | These can be reduced by taking the medicine with food. |
Other things to be careful about when taking medication
- Regular medical checkups: Go to clinics at the scheduled times as prescribed by your doctor and check your condition.
- Measuring blood pressure: If possible, keep a blood pressure monitor at home and measure and record your blood pressure at specific times of the day as directed by your doctor.
- Other medications: If you have a cough, cold, or body ache, don't go to the pharmacy and buy medicine on your own. Some painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs can increase blood pressure. So ask your doctor before taking any medication.
- Drowsiness and alertness: You may feel drowsy or dizzy. So, do not drive or operate machinery until you know how this medicine affects you. Especially if you are elderly, do not get up suddenly. Try to sit down and stand up from a standing position. This will reduce the risk of dizziness and falling.
How do you store medicine?
Keep this medicine out of the reach of children and pets . Keep the bottle tightly closed at room temperature (20-25 degrees Celsius), away from light and moisture. Discard any expired medicine.
Take-Home Message
- Verapamil is an important medicine for high blood pressure and chest pain. Take it consistently, at the right time, and as prescribed by your doctor.
- Avoid drinking grapefruit juice completely while taking this medication.
- It is essential to inform your doctor about all other medications, vitamins, and herbal products you are taking.
- If you experience any serious side effects such as dizziness, difficulty breathing, or yellowing of the skin, seek medical advice immediately.
- This medicine is for you only. Never share your medicine with others.
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