verapamil (oral/injection)

What is the most important information I should know about verapamil?

What is verapamil?

Verapamil oral is used in adults to treat hypertension (high blood pressure), angina (chest pain), and certain heart rhythm disorders.

Verapamil injection is used in adults and children to rapidly or temporarily restore normal heart rate in people with certain heart rhythm disorders.

Lowering blood pressure may lower your risk of a stroke or heart attack.

Verapamil may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using verapamil?

• "sick sinus syndrome" or "AV block" (unless you have a pacemaker);
• very low blood pressure; or
• if your heart cannot pump blood properly.

You may not be able to use verapamil if you have:

• severe congestive heart failure;
• certain heart rhythm disorders (such as 'Afib' or atrial flutter with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome or Lown-Ganong-Levine syndrome);
• a heart condition that causes you to have very rapid heartbeats; or
• if you are receiving an intravenous beta-blocker (such as atenolol, metoprolol, or propranolol).

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• low blood pressure;
• abnormal thickening of the heart muscle;
• certain types of brain tumors;
• congestive heart failure;
• a nerve-muscle disorder such as myasthenia gravis or muscular dystrophy; or
• kidney or liver disease.

How should I use verapamil?

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Verapamil oral is taken by mouth. Your pharmacist can provide more information about how to take this medicine.

Your dose needs may change if you switch to a different brand, strength, or form of this medicine.

Your blood pressure and liver function will need to be checked often.

If you have high blood pressure, keep using this medicine even if you feel well. High blood pressure often has no symptoms.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take verapamil oral as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not use two doses at one time.

What happens if I overdose?

Overdose symptoms may include low blood pressure, slow heart rate, chest pain, shortness of breath, tiredness, high blood sugar, confusion, severe dizziness or fainting.

What should I avoid while using verapamil?

Grapefruit may interact with verapamil and cause side effects. Avoid consuming grapefruit products.

What are the possible side effects of verapamil?

• chest pain, fast, slow, or uneven heart rate;
• a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
• heart problems --swelling, rapid weight gain, feeling short of breath;
• liver problems --loss of appetite, stomach pain (upper right side), tiredness, itching, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or
• fluid build-up in or around the lungs --pain when you breathe, feeling short of breath while lying down, wheezing, gasping for breath, cough with foamy mucus, cold, clammy skin, anxiety, rapid heartbeats.

Common side effects may include:

• nausea, constipation;
• infections, flu symptoms;
• swelling in lower legs or hands;
• headache, dizziness; or
• low blood pressure.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect verapamil?

If you also take disopyramide, avoid taking it within 48 hours before or 24 hours after you take verapamil.

Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medicines at the same time. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you use, which may increase side effects or make the medicines less effective.

Many drugs can affect verapamil. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed here. Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use.

Where can I get more information?

Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information about verapamil.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Copyright 1996-2023 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 19.01. Revision date: 5/15/2023.