Get Informed: Verelan

82

Patient Comments about
Verelan

Active Ingredient(s)

Verapamil

What does it do?

Verelan

This product is used in the treatment of hypertension, angina and some heart arrhythmias. It works by slowing the flow of calcium into heart and vascular smooth muscle.

Last Text Update:
 2010-Mar-19 6:14 PM
Last Data Update:
 2010-Mar-19 9:03 PM

Other Names

  • Verapamil
  • Verapamil HCl
  • Calan
  • Jenapamil
  • Verpamil
  • Verelan
  • Verelan PM
  • Covera
  • Covera-HS
  • Isoptin
  • Securon
  • Cordilox
  • Univer
  • Verapress
  • Ethimil
  • Vertab
  • Zolvera
  • Ranvera

How Safe Is It?

Your Risk Rating
Please log in
Average Risk Rating
2: General
Pregnancy Category:
C
Black Box Warning:
No

Facts & Figures

Date Approved
12 Aug 1981
Est US Patients*
1,027,000
Generic Available
Yes
OTC Available
No

User Age Distribution*

1

< 21

5

21-39

37

40-59

57

60+

Age (Years)

* Estimated number of US people currently taking Verelan or its active ingredient based on population adjusted patient numbers registered with iGuard.org.

Other Resources

Recent alerts for Verelan

Verelan Safety Report

2: General

The iGuard risk rating for Verelan is blue. It means that Verelan normally has a low risk of serious or long-term side effects if used under normal medical supervision.

Learn more about iGuard's risk ratings

  • Please login or register (it's free) so iGuard can check how Verelan interacts with other drugs and diseases in your profile.

What is Verelan used for?

iGuard is currently tracking more than 6,800 patients that use Verelan (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)). Use the table below to learn why iGuard users take this product; click on any underlined condition to get information on other medications used for treatment.

Disease / Condition % Average Severity
High Blood Pressure 83% 5
Migraine/Headache 14% 6
Atrial Fibrillation 11% 7
Heart Valve Problems 4% 5

How well does Verelan work?

iGuard regularly polls our more than 6,800 users taking Verelan (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medications (TSQM) . This feedback is continuously updated in tables below for the benefit of the iGuard community. To request scores for specific patient subgroups, please contact research@iguard.org.

Average Satisfaction Score

(out of 10)

Average Effectiveness Score

(out of 10)

71 69
91%
of patients are confident that the good things about Verelan outweigh the bad things.
10%
of patients wish they were told more before they started taking Verelan.

Common Side Effects of Verelan

iGuard regularly polls our more than 6,800 users taking Verelan (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) to monitor the development and frequency of side-effects. This feedback is continuously updated in tables and graphs below for the benefit of the iGuard community.

17%

17% of patients experience side-effects on Verelan

2%

2% of patients experience signifcant side-effects on Verelan


Most Common Side Effects...

  • 5% Constipation
  • 5% Muscle Pain/Cramps
  • = 10%

Less than 1%: Balance/Coordination Problems, Breathlessness, Cough, Dizziness, Drowsiness, Dryness, Fatigue, Hair Loss, Hot Flashes, Itch/Rash, Nausea/Vomiting, Sweating, Swelling/Edema, Urinary Frequency, Weight Gain


Global Patient Feedback for Verelan (Verapamil) ( Post a comment )

Comments, Questions, and Answers
Show Newest | Oldest first

Question/Comment:

I am on benicar (40mg) and Verapamil (360mg) - does either of these medicines react with the following : Tylenol (regular), Tylenol (cold) and antibiotics? Also does the medicines interact with alchohol (wine, beer) or regular Cofee?
Thanks

46 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States

Posted: 2010-03-05 11:27:45

iGuard Answer/Reply:

There are several issues. If the Tylenol Cold contains pseudoephedrine, or Sudafed, then that can increase your blood pressure. Regular Tylenol should have no effect. Verapamil can cause levels of caffeine to increase, but caffeine by itself can increase heart rate. Alcohol can intensify the drowsiness that may occur with either Benicar or verapamil. Antibiotics should not be any issue.

Posted: 2010-03-14 21:32:18

Question/Comment:

I take 180mg 1x daily to help curb the frequency of migraines. After a spinal/nerve injury over 3 years ago, I also have had some intestinal issues, which thankfully the "constipating effect" of this med have helped get/keep in a more normal range.

when I first started taking it, for the first 10-14 days, I found I was dizzy and "spacey" the whole time. I really avoided driving, simply because I did not feel that I was unimpaired enough for that.

38 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States

Posted: 2010-01-01 19:00:03

Question/Comment:

As I browse through the comments, I notice that everyone takes smaller doses than me. My doctor is starting me out with 200mg. Is this too much? My blood pressure was 169/87. I am scared of taking medication that will alter the way that I feel in any way.

36 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States

Posted: 2009-11-30 23:00:08

iGuard Answer/Reply:

In general, drug dosing is a very individualized process for each patient/prescribing doctor. A typical starting dose of verapamil 80 mg three times a day for a total daily dose of 240 mg/day. Daily dosages of up to 360 and 480 mg have been used but there is no evidence that dosages above 360 mg provided added benefit in controlling hypertension. You should follow up with your prescribing doctor to discuss your concerns and also to measure your blood pressure to see if your dose is working. Controlling your blood pressure is very critical to maintaining your health and avoiding more serious cardiovascular complications.

Posted: 2009-12-01 12:33:25

Answer/Reply:

to 36 year old female im 35 years old and i take 240mg of verapimil 1 time a day and no side effects it is one of the best drugs for blood pressure there is so dont be scared, it is better than walking around with it having a stroke.

35 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States

Posted: 2009-12-06 23:13:01

Question/Comment:

I took Verapamil for 8 months. It adversely affected my breathing although it is "not supposed to do that." Two weeks after getting off Verapamil, my breathing difficulty eased.

60 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States

Posted: 2009-11-26 11:50:37

Question/Comment:

I take Verapamil 240 mg and 120mg - last 10 months, including 40mg of Benicar. The last few Lab test for CBC and CMP my sodium level has dropped to 131-133 from 135, heamoglobin level to 12.6 from 13.9, cholesterol from 143 to 121.
Are these side effects of verapamil? I am also on very low salt diet.

46 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States

Posted: 2009-09-25 10:34:04

iGuard Answer/Reply:

Small changes in lab values are normal and should not be alarming. It is more concerning if these lab values go out of the normal range, either too high or too low. Although normal values vary, in general the normal blood sodium level is 135 - 145 milliEquivalents/liter (mEq/L). Normal results for hemoglobin vary as well, but in general are: 13.8 to 17.2 gm/dL for men and 12.1 to 15.1 gm/dL for women.

It is difficult to say what has caused a decrease in your lab values. The changes in your sodium levels and also your hemoglobin may be from the Benicar and not the Verapamil. Benicar can cause slight decreases in hemoglobin, decreases up to 0.3g/dl were reported during clinical studies by the manufacturer. Benicar can also cause increased potassium in your body which then in turn could reduce sodium levels. However, it is not likely that Benicar would cause the changes you are seeing. Your sodium and hemoglobin levels are on the low side but not life threatening low. However, please follow up with your doctor to see if he or she is concerned about these values and wants to do anything about them.

Your decrease in cholesterol is a positive thing and there may be other factors contributing to that change including smarter dietary and fitness choices. Benicar in some cases was reported to increase cholesterol, so it is not likely related to the reduction you reported.

Posted: 2009-10-01 21:42:46

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