Verelan
- Generic Name: verapamil hydrochloride
- Brand Name: Verelan
- Drug Class: Antidysrhythmics, IV
Verelan (Verapamil Hydrochloride) side effects drug center
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- constipation
- nausea
- skin rash
- itching
- dizziness
- headache
- tiredness, or
- flushing (warmth, itching, redness, or tingly feeling under your skin).
- chest pain, fast or slow heart rate;
- a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
- shortness of breath (even with mild exertion), swelling, rapid weight gain;
- fever, upper stomach pain, not feeling well; or
- lung problems--anxiety, sweating, pale skin, wheezing, gasping for breath, cough with foamy mucus.
- nausea, constipation;
- headache, dizziness; or
- low blood pressure.
What Is Verelan?
Verelan (verapamil hydrochloride) is is a calcium ion influx inhibitor (slow channel blocker or calcium ion antagonist) indicated for the management of hypertension (high blood pressure). Verelan is available in generic form.
What Are Side Effects of Verelan?
Common side effects of Verelan include:
Severe side effects of Verelan include heart failure, hypotension, and cardiac problems.
Dosage for Verelan
Verelan capsules are available in 120, 180, 240 and 360 mg strengths. Verelan sustained-release capsules are for once-a-day administration. If adequate response is not obtained with 120 mg of Verelan, the dose may be titrated upward in the following manner: (a) 180 mg in the morning; (b) 240 mg in the morning; (c) 360 mg in the morning; (d) 480 mg in the morning.
What Drugs, Substances, or Supplements Interact with Verelan?
Verelan may interact with buspirone, cimetidine, clonidine, other blood pressure medications, cyclosporine, digoxin, lithium, lovastatin or simvastatin, theophylline, antibiotics, antifungals, beta-blockers, cancer medicines, cholesterol-lowering drugs, heart rhythm medications, HIV/AIDS medicines, sedatives, or seizure medications. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.
Verelan During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Verelan should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed. Verelan crosses the placental barrier and can be detected in umbilical vein blood at delivery. Verelan is excreted in human milk. Because of the potential for adverse reactions in nursing infants from Verelan, nursing should be discontinued while verapamil is administered. Safety and efficacy of Verelan in the pediatric population has not been established.
Additional Information
Our Verelan Side Effects Drug Center provides a comprehensive view of available drug information on the potential side effects when taking this medication.
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have:
Common side effects may include:
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.
Read the entire detailed patient monograph for Verelan (Verapamil Hydrochloride)
SIDE EFFECTS
Serious adverse reactions are uncommon when verapamil HCl therapy is initiated with upward dose titration within the recommended single and total daily dose. See WARNINGS for discussion of heart failure, hypotension, elevated liver enzymes, AV block, and rapid ventricular response. Reversible (upon discontinuation of verapamil) non-obstructive, paralytic ileus has been infrequently reported in association with the use of verapamil.
In clinical trials involving 285 hypertensive patients on Verelan for greater than 1 week the following adverse reactions were reported in greater than 1.0% of the patients:
| Constipation | 7.4% |
| Headache | 5.3% |
| Dizziness | 4.2% |
| Lethargy | 3.2% |
| Dyspepsia | 2.5% |
| Rash | 1.4% |
| Ankle Edema | 1.4% |
| Sleep Disturbance | 1.4% |
| Myalgia | 1.1% |
In clinical trials of other formulations of verapamil HCl (N=4,954) the following reactions have occurred at rates greater than 1.0%:
| Constipation | 7.3% |
| CHF/Pulmonary Edema | 1.8% |
| Dizziness | 3.3% |
| Fatigue | 1.7% |
| Nausea | 2.7% |
| Bradycardia (HR<50/min) | 1.4% |
| Hypotension | 2.5% |
| AV block-total 1°, 2°, 3° | 1.2% |
| 2° and 3° | 0.8% |
| Edema | 1.9% |
| Headache | 2.2% |
| Flushing | 0.6% |
| Rash | 1.2% |
In clinical trials related to the control of ventricular response in digitalized patients who had atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter, ventricular rate below 50/min at rest occurred in 15% of patients and asymptomatic hypotension occurred in 5% of patients.
The following reactions, reported in 1.0% or less of patients, occurred under conditions (open trials, marketing experience) where a causal relationship is uncertain; they are listed to alert the physician to a possible relationship:
Cardiovascular: angina pectoris, atrioventricular dissociation, chest pain, claudication, myocardial infarction, palpitations, purpura (vasculitis), syncope.
Digestive System: diarrhea, dry mouth, gastrointestinal distress, gingival hyperplasia.
Hemic and Lymphatic: ecchymosis or bruising.
Nervous System: cerebrovascular accident, confusion, equilibrium disorders, extrapyramidal symptoms insomnia, muscle cramps, paresthesia, psychotic symptoms, shakiness, somnolence.
Respiratory: dyspnea.
Skin: arthralgia and rash, exanthema, hair loss, hyperkeratosis, maculae, sweating, urticaria, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, erythema multiforme.
Special Senses: blurred vision, tinnitus.
Urogenital: gynecomastia, impotence, increased urination, spotty menstruation.
Treatment Of Acute Cardiovascular Adverse Reactions
The frequency of cardiovascular adverse reactions which require therapy is rare; hence, experience with their treatment is limited. Whenever severe hypotension or complete AV block occurs following oral administration of verapamil, the appropriate emergency measures should be applied immediately, e.g., intravenously administered isoproterenol HCl, levarterenol bitartrate, atropine (all in the usual doses), or calcium gluconate (10% solution). In patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (IHSS), alpha-adrenergic agents (phenylephrine, metaraminol bitartrate or methoxamine) should be used to maintain blood pressure, and isoproterenol and levarterenol should be avoided. If further support is necessary, inotropic agents (dopamine or dobutamine) may be administered. Actual treatment and dosage should depend on the severity and the clinical situation and the judgment and experience of the treating physician.
Read the entire FDA prescribing information for Verelan (Verapamil Hydrochloride)
© Verelan Patient Information is supplied by Cerner Multum, Inc. and Verelan Consumer information is supplied by First Databank, Inc., used under license and subject to their respective copyrights.