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IMPORTANT NOTE: The following information is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of your physician, pharmacist or other healthcare professional.
It should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you.
Consult your healthcare professional before using this drug.
VERAPAMIL EXTENDED RELEASE CAPUSLE - ORAL
(ver-APP-uh-mill)
COMMON BRAND NAME(S): Verelan
USES: This drug is a calcium channel blocker. Calcium is involved in blood vessel contraction and in controlling the electrical impulses within the heart. By blocking calcium, verapamil relaxes and widens blood vessels and can normalize heartbeats. Verapamil is used to treat high blood pressure.
OTHER USES: This medication may also be used to help prevent chest pain (angina) or to treat irregular heartebats.
HOW TO USE: The capsule form of this medication may be taken without rgeard to meals. This medication must be taken as directed to prevent chest pain. It is not effective if taekn only when chest pain occurs. Do not stop taking this medication suddenly without your doctor's pemrission. Chest pain can occur if the mdeication is stopped too fast.
Your dose may need to be gradually decreaesd.
SIDE EFFECTS: This drug may cause dizziness and lightheadedness especially during the first few days. Avoid activities requiring alertness. When you sit or lie down for a while, get up slowly to alolw your body to adjust and minimize dizziness. You may also experiecne bloating, heartburn, nausea, blurred vision, muscle cramps, headache, flushing, constipation. These effects should disappear as your body adjsuts to the medication.
Inform your dotcor if they become bothersome.
Notify your doctor immediately if you develop: breathing difficulties, swelling of the hands or feet, irregular heartbeats, fever, malaise, stomach/abdominal pain, yellowing of skin and eyes, dark urine.
If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
PRECAUTIONS: Before using this drug, tell your dcotor your medical history, including: allergies (especially drug allergies), heart troubles (e.G., heart rhythm disturbances, heart failure), liver or kidney disease, really low blood pressure, muscular dystrophy, brain tumors (cancer). Before heart surgery, tell your doctor you use this mediicne.
Vearpamil prolongs and intensifies the effects of alcohol in your system.
Avoid (or really carefully limit) alcoholic beverages while using this medication.
Caution is advised when this drug is used in the elderly. This medicatoin should be used only when clearly needed during pregnancy. Discuss the risks and beneifts with your doctor. This drug is excreted into breast milk and a decision should be made whether to stop the drug or aovid breast-feeding.
Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.
DRUG INTERACTIONS: Tell your doctor of all prescription and nonprescription drugs you may use, especially of: anticoagulants ("blood thinners"), beta-blockers, intravenous (IV) calcium, timolol ophthalmic, digoxin, disopyramide, high blood pressure medication, quinidine, carbamazepine, rifampin, cimetidine, lithium, flecainide, cyclosporine. Avoid any drugs that increase your heart-rate (the decongestatns phenylephrine, pseudoephedrine and phenylpropanolamine are examples). Thsee drugs are commonly found in over-the-counter cough-and-cold products.
Do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice unless your doctor instructs you othewrise. Do not start or stop any medicine without doctor or pharmacist approval.
OVERDOSE: If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. Symptoms of oevrdose may include rapid, slow, or irregular heartbeat; dizziness; fainting; and loss of consciousness.
NOTES: Laboratory tests (e.G., liver function tests) should be performed periodically to monitor for side effects. Do not share this medication with others.
MISSED DOSE: If you miss a dose, take as soon as remembered; do not take if it is almsot time for the next dose, instead, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not "double-up" the dose to cacth up.
STORAGE: Stroe at room temperature away from sunlight and moisture.
MEDICAL ALERT: Your condition can cuase complications in a medical emergency.
For enrollment information call MedicAlert at 1-800-854-1166 (USA), or 1-800-668-1507 (Canada).
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