Has your doctor prescribed Verapamil for high blood pressure or angina? Or does anyone in your family use this medication? It is very important to be fully informed about this medication that is prescribed to many people. So, today we will talk simply, as if we were talking to a friend, about what Verapamil is, what it does to the body, and what things to be careful about when using it.
What kind of medicine is Verapamil?
Simply put, Verapamil is a drug that belongs to a class of drugs called calcium channel blockers . The mineral calcium helps our heart muscles and blood vessel walls contract. This drug works by controlling the amount of calcium that enters the cells.
Imagine a water pipe getting clogged. Then the pressure on the water increases, right? Similarly, when our blood vessels become tight, the pressure on the blood increases. Verapamil relaxes our blood vessels and heart muscle . This reduces the pressure on the blood inside the blood vessels. This also allows the heart to pump blood more easily without having to work as hard.
For this reason, Verapamil is mainly prescribed to treat conditions such as:
- High Blood Pressure / Hypertension: Control your blood pressure.
- Angina: Prevent chest pain caused by insufficient blood flow to the heart.
- Heartbeat Irregularities (Arrhythmia): Control abnormally fast or irregular heartbeat.
Things you need to tell your doctor before starting this medication
Before starting Verapamil, it is very important to give your doctor a complete description of your health condition. Because using this medicine with certain medical conditions can be risky. Be sure to tell your doctor if you have any of the following conditions:
- If you have heart disease (e.g. heart failure).
- If your heartbeat becomes irregular or beats very slowly.
- If you have low blood pressure .
- If you have liver disease .
- If you have a muscle disease like Duchenne muscular dystrophy .
- If you have had an allergic reaction to verapamil or any other medicine, food, or dye.
- If you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant .
- If you are a breastfeeding mother .
It's for your own safety to tell the doctor these things without hiding them.
How to use Verapamil correctly?
The most important thing is to take the medicine exactly as prescribed by the doctor, at the prescribed time.
- This medicine is to be taken by mouth. Get into the habit of taking it at the same time every day .
- You can take it before or after meals, but if you experience stomach upset, it's best to take it with food.
- Continue taking the medicine until your doctor tells you to stop. Don't take it today and not tomorrow.
- If you miss a dose: Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the next dose at the scheduled time. Never take a double dose.
- Overdose: If you think you have taken too much of this medicine, immediately contact the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital. Or go to the Emergency Department (ETU) of the nearest hospital. Do not take this lightly, as an overdose of Verapamil can be dangerous.
Most importantly , do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while taking this medication. The chemicals in grapefruit affect the way this medication breaks down in our body. This can greatly increase the risk of side effects.
Other things that can interact with Verapamil (Interactions)
Verapamil can interact with other medications, foods, and herbs. So you should tell your doctor about everything you take. The table below will help you understand this further.
| Reaction type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Things to avoid completely |
|
| Other drugs to use with caution |
This list is not complete. So tell your doctor about any medications, vitamins, herbs, or supplements you are taking. Also, tell your doctor if you use alcohol or tobacco.
Possible side effects of Verapamil
Like any medicine, Verapamil can cause side effects. Some are common, while others can be serious.
| Side effect | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Serious side effects that should be reported to the doctor immediately | |
| Allergic Reactions | Skin rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat. |
| Heart Failure | Difficulty breathing, swelling of the ankles, feet, or hands, sudden weight gain, unusual fatigue. |
| Slow Heartbeat | Severe dizziness, fainting, difficulty breathing. |
| Liver Injury | Pain in the right upper abdomen, loss of appetite, nausea, yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark yellow/brown urine. |
| Low Blood Pressure | Severe dizziness, fainting, blurred vision. |
| Side effects that are usually not serious, but should be reported to the doctor if they persist | |
| Constipation | This is a common side effect that many people who take Verapamil experience. |
| Dizziness | It can occur especially when changing positions. |
| Headache | A slight headache may occur. |
| Nausea | Stomach upset or feeling like vomiting. |
Other things to keep in mind when taking the medicine
- Medical tests: Go to the clinic regularly as your doctor tells you to and check your progress. If you check your blood pressure at home, tell your doctor about those values as well.
- Drowsiness: This medication may make you feel drowsy or dizzy. Therefore , do not drive or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you.
- Changing positions: Don't get up from a sitting position or from a lying position suddenly. Especially if you are elderly, get up slowly. Otherwise, you may feel dizzy and faint and fall.
- Other medications: Do not take over-the-counter medications for coughs, colds, or pain without first checking with your doctor. Some medications can increase your blood pressure.
Take-Home Message
- Verapamil is a prescription drug that should only be taken on the advice of a doctor.
- Avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice completely while taking this medication.
- Be sure to inform your doctor about all other medications you are taking (including vitamins and herbal supplements).
- Be careful when performing tasks that require concentration and changing positions, as drowsiness and dizziness may occur.
- If you experience serious symptoms such as difficulty breathing, unusual swelling of the body, severe dizziness or fainting, or yellowing of the skin, seek medical advice immediately.
- Store this medicine out of the reach of children and pets, at room temperature, and away from light.
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