verapamil 3 times a day migraine
(ver AH pa mill)
Calan, Calan SR, Covera-HS, Isoptin, Isoptin SR, Verelan, Verelan PM
What is the most important information I should know about verapamil?
• Do not stop taking this medication without first talking to your doctor verapamil 3 times a day migraine. If you stop taking the medication, your condition could become worse verapamil 3 times a day migraine.
• Do not crush, chew, or break extended-release forms of verapamil suchas generic Covera-HS and Verelan PM verapamil 3 times a day migraine. Swallow them whole verapamil 3 times a day migraine. Generic verapamil SR,Isoptin SR, and Calan SR may be divided in half but should not be crushed orchewed verapamil 3 times a day migraine.
What is verapamil?
• Verapamil is in a class of drugs called calcium channel blockers verapamil 3 times a day migraine. Verapamilrelaxes (widens) blood vessels (veins and arteries), which makes it easier forthe heart to pump and reduces its workload verapamil 3 times a day migraine.
• Verapamil is used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure), to treatangina (chest pain), and to control some types of irregular heartbeats verapamil 3 times a day migraine.
• Verapamil may also be used for purposes other than those listed in thismedication guide verapamil 3 times a day migraine.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking verapamil?
• Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you have
· kidney or liver disease;
· other diseases of the heart or blood vessels such as sick sinus syndrome,aortic stenosis, heart failure, heart block, Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome,coronary artery disease, or low blood pressure; or
· muscular dystrophy verapamil 3 times a day migraine.
• You may not be able to take verapamil, or you may require a dosage adjustmentor special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listedabove verapamil 3 times a day migraine.
• Verapamil is in the FDA pregnancy category C verapamil 3 times a day migraine. This means that it is notknown whether verapamil will be harmful to an unborn baby verapamil 3 times a day migraine. Do not take verapamilwithout first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnantduring treatment verapamil 3 times a day migraine.
• Verapamil passes into breast milk and may harm a nursing infant verapamil 3 times a day migraine. Do nottake verapamil without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feedinga baby verapamil 3 times a day migraine.
How should I take verapamil?
• Take verapamil exactly as directed by your doctor verapamil 3 times a day migraine. If you do not understandthese directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you verapamil 3 times a day migraine.
• Take each dose with a full glass of water verapamil 3 times a day migraine.
• Verelan, Verelan PM, Calan, Isoptin, Covera-HS, and generic forms ofregular-release verapamil can be taken with or without food verapamil 3 times a day migraine. Taking the medicationwith food may reduce stomach upset if it occurs verapamil 3 times a day migraine.
• Calan SR, Isoptin SR, and generic sustained-release verapamil (verapamilSR) may be more likely to cause stomach upset and should be taken with foodto reduce this side effect verapamil 3 times a day migraine.
• Take Covera-HS and Verelan PM at bedtime verapamil 3 times a day migraine.
• If you have trouble swallowing the Verelan pellet-filled capsules, theycan be opened and the contents can be sprinkled onto cold, soft food such asapplesauce verapamil 3 times a day migraine. This mixture must be swallowed without chewing verapamil 3 times a day migraine. Use the mixtureimmediately verapamil 3 times a day migraine. Do not save it for later use verapamil 3 times a day migraine. (Do not use this procedure for theVerelan PM capsules.)
• Do not crush, chew, or break extended-release forms of verapamil suchas Covera-HS and Verelan PM verapamil 3 times a day migraine. Swallow them whole verapamil 3 times a day migraine. Generic verapamil SR, IsoptinSR, and Calan SR may be divided in half if the tablets are scored, but shouldnot be crushed or chewed verapamil 3 times a day migraine.
• If you are taking Covera-HS, do not be concerned if you find what lookslike an undissolved tablet in your stool verapamil 3 times a day migraine. This medication is formulated withan outer shell that does not dissolve verapamil 3 times a day migraine. This shell allows the medicine to bereleased slowly into your body before it is passed out in the stool verapamil 3 times a day migraine.
• It is important to take verapamil regularly to get the most benefit verapamil 3 times a day migraine.
• Do not stop taking this medication without first talking to your doctor verapamil 3 times a day migraine. If you stop taking the medication, your condition could become worse verapamil 3 times a day migraine.
• Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with verapamil verapamil 3 times a day migraine. The interactioncould lead to potentially dangerous effects verapamil 3 times a day migraine. Discuss the use of grapefruit andgrapefruit juice with your doctor verapamil 3 times a day migraine. Do not increase or decrease the amount ofgrapefruit products in your diet without first talking to your doctor verapamil 3 times a day migraine.
• Your doctor may want you to have blood tests, blood pressure monitoring,or other medical evaluations during treatment with verapamil to monitor progressand side effects verapamil 3 times a day migraine.
• Store verapamil at room temperature away from moisture and heat verapamil 3 times a day migraine.
What happens if I miss a dose?
• Take the missed dose as soon as you remember verapamil 3 times a day migraine. However, if it is almosttime for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take only the next regularlyscheduled dose verapamil 3 times a day migraine. Do not take a double dose of this medication verapamil 3 times a day migraine.
What happens if I overdose?
• Seek emergency medical attention verapamil 3 times a day migraine.
• Symptoms of a verapamil overdose include dizziness, weakness, chest pain,shortness of breath, fainting, an unusually fast or slow heartbeat, coma, slurredspeech, and confusion verapamil 3 times a day migraine.
What should I avoid while taking verapamil?
• Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with verapamil verapamil 3 times a day migraine. The interactioncould lead to potentially dangerous effects verapamil 3 times a day migraine. Discuss the use of grapefruit andgrapefruit juice with your doctor verapamil 3 times a day migraine. Do not increase or decrease the amount ofgrapefruit products in your diet without first talking to your doctor verapamil 3 times a day migraine.
• Avoid the use alcohol verapamil 3 times a day migraine. Alcohol may further lower blood pressure and increasedrowsiness and dizziness while taking verapamil verapamil 3 times a day migraine.
• Follow any recommendations your doctor makes about diet or exercise verapamil 3 times a day migraine.
What are the possible side effects of verapamil?
• If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop takingverapamil and contact your doctor immediately or seek emergency medical treatment:
· an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat;swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
· an unusually fast or slow heartbeat;
· shortness of breath (heart failure);
· fainting;
· abnormal behavior or psychosis;
· jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or
· swelling of the legs or ankles verapamil 3 times a day migraine.
• Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur verapamil 3 times a day migraine. Continueto take verapamil and talk to your doctor if you experience
· unusual headache, fatigue, or tiredness;
· insomnia or trouble sleeping;
· vivid dreams;
· hair loss;
· nausea or diarrhea; or
· increased urination verapamil 3 times a day migraine.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur verapamil 3 times a day migraine. Talk to yourdoctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome verapamil 3 times a day migraine.
What other drugs will affect verapamil?
• Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are taking anyof the following drugs:
· cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral);
· cimetidine (Tagamet, Tagamet HB);
· carbamazepine (Tegretol, Carbatrol);
· lithium (Lithobid, Eskalith, others);
· theophylline (Theo-Dur, Theochron, Theolair, Theobid, Elixophyllin,Slo-Phyllin, others);
· rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane);
· phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton);
· an HMG CoA reductase inhibitor such as atorvastatin (Lipitor), lovastatin(Mevacor), simvastatin (Zocor), and others; or
· another heart medication such as propranolol (Inderal), metoprolol(Lopressor, Toprol XL), atenolol (Tenormin), digoxin (Lanoxin), quinidine (Quinora,Quinidex, Quinaglute), flecainide (Tambocor), disopyramide (Norpace), captopril(Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), and others verapamil 3 times a day migraine.
• You may not be able to take verapamil, or you may require a dosage adjustmentor special monitoring if you are taking any of the medicines listed above verapamil 3 times a day migraine.
• Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with verapamil oraffect your condition verapamil 3 times a day migraine. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking anyprescription or over-the-counter medicines, including vitamins, minerals, andherbal products verapamil 3 times a day migraine.
Where can I get more information?
• Your pharmacist has additional information about verapamil written forhealth professionals that you may read verapamil 3 times a day migraine.
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