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Calan, Calan SR, Covera-HS, Isoptin, Isoptin SR, Verelan, Verelan PM, |Calan SR

Calan SR

Generic Name: verapamil (oral) (ver AH pa mill)
Brand Names: Calan, Calan SR, Covera-HS, Isoptin, Isoptin SR, Verelan, Verelan PM

What is verapamil?

Verapamil is in a class of drugs called calcium channel blockers. Verapamil relaxes (widens) blood vessels (veins and arteries), which makes it easier for the heart to pump and reduces its workload.

Verapamil is used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure), to treat angina (chest pain), and to control some types of irregular heartbeats.

Verapamil may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

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

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.

You may not be able to take verapamil, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.

How should I take verapamil?

Take verapamil exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.

Verelan, Verelan PM, Calan, Isoptin, Covera-HS, and generic forms of regular-release verapamil can be taken with or without food. Taking the medication with food may reduce stomach upset if it occurs.

Take Covera-HS and Verelan PM at bedtime.

If you have trouble swallowing the Verelan pellet-filled capsules, they can be opened and the contents can be sprinkled onto cold, soft food such as applesauce. This mixture must be swallowed without chewing. Use the mixture immediately. Do not save it for later use. (Do not use this procedure for the Verelan PM capsules.)

If you are taking Covera-HS, do not be concerned if you find what looks like an undissolved tablet in your stool. This medication is formulated with an outer shell that does not dissolve. This shell allows the medicine to be released slowly into your body before it is passed out in the stool.

It is important to take verapamil regularly to get the most benefit.

Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with verapamil. The interaction could lead to potentially dangerous effects. Discuss the use of grapefruit and grapefruit juice with your doctor. Do not increase or decrease the amount of grapefruit products in your diet without first talking to your doctor.

Your doctor may want you to have blood tests, blood pressure monitoring, or other medical evaluations during treatment with verapamil to monitor progress and side effects.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take only the next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this medication.

What happens if I overdose?

Symptoms of a verapamil overdose include dizziness, weakness, chest pain, shortness of breath, fainting, an unusually fast or slow heartbeat, coma, slurred speech, and confusion.

What should I avoid while taking verapamil?

Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with verapamil. The interaction could lead to potentially dangerous effects. Discuss the use of grapefruit and grapefruit juice with your doctor. Do not increase or decrease the amount of grapefruit products in your diet without first talking to your doctor.

Follow any recommendations your doctor makes about diet or exercise.

Verapamil side effects

• 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.

Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to 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.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect verapamil?

Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are taking any of 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.

You may not be able to take verapamil, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring if you are taking any of the medicines listed above.

Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with verapamil or affect your condition. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist has additional information about verapamil written for health professionals that you may read.

What does my medication look like?

Verapamil is available with a prescription generically and under the brand names Calan, Calan SR, Isoptin, Isoptin SR, Verelan, Verelan PM, and Covera-HS. Other brand or generic formulations may also be available. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you.

• Calan 40 mg--round, pink, film-coated tablets

• Calan 80 mg--oval, peach-colored, film-coated, scored tablets

• Calan 120 mg--oval, brown, film-coated, scored tablets

• Calan SR 120 mg--oval, light-violet, film-coated tablets

• Calan SR 180 mg--oval, light-pink, film-coated, scored tablets

• Calan SR 240 mg--capsule-shaped, light-green, film-coated, scored tablets

• Isoptin 40 mg--round, light-blue, film-coated, scored tablets

• Isoptin 80 mg--round, yellow, film-coated, scored tablets

• Isoptin 120 mg--round, white, film-coated, scored tablets

• Isoptin SR 120 mg--oval, light-violet, film-coated tablets

• Isoptin SR 180 mg--oval, light-pink, film-coated, scored tablets

• Isoptin SR 240 mg--capsule-shaped, light-green, film-coated, scored tablets

• Verelan 120 mg--yellow capsules

• Verelan 180 mg--yellow/gray capsules

• Verelan 240 mg--dark-blue/yellow capsules

• Verelan 360 mg--purple/yellow capsules

• Verelan PM 100 mg-white/amethyst capsules

• Verelan PM 200 mg-amethyst/amethyst capsules

• Verelan PM 300 mg-lavender/amethyst capsules

• Covera-HS 180 mg--round, lavender, film-coated tablets

• Covera-HS 240 mg--round, pale-yellow, film-coated tablets

• 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.