Coming off Verapamil

[Thom7]

I have AF but my only sympton is sometimes light headiness .Following visit to my EP today and an ECG my EP advised that my pulse rate was in the low 50s and therefore he suggested that I stop taking 120mg Verapamil. He is to advise my GP that I need to have my blood pressure and pulse rate every 2 weeks and if there is a problem to contact him directly. I remain on 1.25mg Ramipril ,80mg Atorvastatin,and warfarin. I am feeling a little apprehensive about discontinuing this drug as I have been on Verapamil some 10 years. Has anyone else experienced this situation.Any advice would be appreciated.

[10gingercats]

I was taking 120mg X 2 daily Verapamil for years and then started to feel a little faint. My GP reduced it to 80 mg and I then felt fine again. Maybe you too need a tweek?I speak only from experience I am not a doctor.

[Mike11]

Buy a blood pressure monitor (£10 at Lloyds or some other chemists) and monitor BP yourself. Slowly reduce the verapamil until pulse is around 60 and BP 120/80. This will get you back to health far quicker than fortnightly visits to the GP to do this, although obviously still go to him/her with the results

[cuore]

A normal heart rate is from 60 to 100 bpm. So, a heart rate in the low 50's is below normal.

Verapamil is a rate control drug with some blood pressure lowering effects too. You are taking Rampril for blood pressure, but at a low dose of 1.2mg. I took up to 10 mg.

In my case, I have to take Amiodarone (an anit-arrhythmic drug ) post ablation. But the combination of Verapamil and Amiodareone caused my heart rate, like you, to drop to the low-fifties. So, I requested my GP drop the Verapamil, and he did not object if I were to keep a close eye on the heart rate. Thus, when my heart rate went above 100 b.p.m., I would pop a Verapamil. (I may have done this 6 times in 2 months)

When I emailed my EP about what I was doing in controlling heart rate, she agreed it was the correct thing to do.

I do have an Omeron which is a blood pressure machine that also gives the rate. So I take my blood pressure, which also gives me the rate, every day. So, with an Omeron, or another type of blood pressure machine, you would be ahead of the mandatory 2 week time interval.

At present, my heart rate is below 100 b.p.m. so I have not had the need for Verapamil.

Ten years is a long time to be on Verapamil.

[Lfunique-71 in reply to cuore]

Hi,

I have been on verapamil 180mg X2 SR a day for 10 years for Psvt.Fast heart rate.i have been stable.Now there is a back order on my 180mg SR and a recall on the isoptin 180mg SR.So I weaned my self off one of the doses and only now taking the 180mg SR a day.Feeling fine no issues blood pressure is stable and so is heart rate. HOWEVER,now they can not get the 180mg SR in isoptin. I was in a panic and the doctor prescribed 10mg Bisoprolol which I am scared to take as I am hypersensitive to medications and not to mention so many issues with bisoprolol.I was wondering if I take 1 1/2 120mg isoptin verapamil which is the same as 180mg SR.But, I know u should not split the pill as it looses it slow release effect.The pharmacy says it's ok.As well

The pharmacy has isoptin verapamil 180mg in the immediate release but I'm not sure how I will react to that either. Does anyone have any advise.

[Thom7]

Thank you cuore for your reply.I do have an Omeron machine and take my blood pressure daily but I am concerned that it might not be accurate enough. However my EP has insisted on the Fortnightly check with Practice nurse and I am happy to do this. If my heart rate was to rise above 100b.p.m then he has asked them to contact him directly for advice. At present it is 75 to 78 b.p.m but I am unsure how long it takes the Verapamil to clear the system after stopping the medication. I also worry that my low dosage of Ramipril may not now be sufficient to control my blood pressure. Still early days so will just have to see what happens.