Calling all Verapamil users

[2000RedRose]

Calling All Verapamil Users!—Does anyone like me suffer from chronic constipation from this medication,requiring a daily laxative,and if so ,what do you regard as a daily safe one ,and are you quite content taking daily laxatives for years .Personally I would deem it unhealthy. —Looking forward to any tips,although I’m hoping this medication will be changed in the future as I have taken it for 2 years with no improvement, and only reducing my average BP.to 157/88.—I look forward to your worthy advice and comments .—-Warmest wishes to all Afib sufferers.Red Rose 🌹 2000

[meadfoot]

Mm, not an easy choice. I find dulcolax overnight relief gentle but not sure about it as an ongoing medication. Last week my doctor gave me lactolose and laxido but i have gastric issues too and lactolose instructions said not to take if you have gastric/cardio issues so thats out.

Clearly diet is the best way ie lots of fibre, fruit, veg etc drinking plenty of water, however although i eat eight portions of veg everyday and copious amounts of water it does nothing for me as i have motility issues.

Be careful what you try, if you can successfully change your verapamil via your medic that may be a better solution. Good luck.

[Physalis in reply to meadfoot]

Try adding ten dried prunes to your diet every day.

[meadfoot in reply to Physalis]

Sounds like a good plan, thank you.

[2000RedRose in reply to Physalis]

Ha ha 😂Physalis — Yes I do that one but usually stop at 8;prunes and sometimes add prune juice,but I don’t think being constipated for years seems healthy ,so am working on getting a change ,as the Verapamil hasn’t shown any improvement at all with my Afib problems — quite the oppposite as they’re getting worse. Enjoy your prunes though and thanks for your suggestion.best wishes 🌹 Red Rose2000

[Auriculaire in reply to 2000RedRose]

Ginger works well too and dried apricots - the brown sort.

[2000RedRose in reply to meadfoot]

thank you Meadfoot — you seem to have similar problems to me,and as you say the obvious solution would be to change the Verapamil,so I am working on that and have left it in the hands of the GP. as Cardiology consultations are like Gold Dust. All the best with your solutions,and best wishes for a bright future.Red 🌹 Rose 2000

[meadfoot in reply to 2000RedRose]

Thank you. Same to you red.

[2000RedRose in reply to meadfoot]

Hi meadfoot ,Yes 2 years ago when starting the Verapamil,and complaining of the constipation my GP.gave me Bisocodyl that is the same as Dulcolax and I took it for 3 months then happened to read the enclosed leaflet that said DO NOT use for more than 6 WEEKS. I then tried Fibrogel unsuccessfully, so have ended up with prunes and prune juice. Fresh fruit I do take but green veg. and salads are a no no for my Diverticulitis.I have asked for a change or review of medication ,previously , 2 years ago to improve my QOL.and again the answer was just double the dose of 2 medications that landed me in A&E with overdosage for 3 days ! —-so I’ll wait and see this time .Thank you for the Good Luck wishes as I think I’ll need them .All the best to you too. RedRose🌹

[meadfoot in reply to 2000RedRose]

Once we start on medication one thing sets of another, its so wearing all the time. Constipation is no joke and i find so many meds cause or exacerbate it. Every med i get seems to react with something else i am taking, its a minefield. By far the best way forward is a natural solution like diet, exercise, water etc, but easier said than done. I wish you good luck in finding a solution, there will be one for you, dont give up.

[The_Lord_is_with_Us]

Flecainide tended to stop me up. But, you're right. OTC or prescription laxatives long term are terrible for health.

Eat veggies and high fiber foods (as was mentioned). Plus .... get some organic psyllium powder. Put a tablespoon in large glass of water well mixed, once a day. Drink water throughout the day. See how it goes. Increase to twice a day, if needed. Brand I use is Organic India psyllium powder, but any quality brand will work.

Don't take psyllium an hour or two around when you take meds or vitamins.

Also, you can take a potent probiotic formula. Some of them have digestive enzymes, too. It helps digest food and intestinal debris and get things moving.

Of course, lay off cheese and other known stopping food and drink.

Unlike laxatives, all these are health building .... not destroying health.

[2000RedRose in reply to The_Lord_is_with_Us]

thankyou The—Lord —-is —-with —-Us > I sincerely hope he is with me!! Most green veg. and salads are banned for me because of my diverticulitis ,but since my problem in the last few days on an increased dose of Verapamil I have been taking Lepicol psyllium with probiotics,but thank you for the tip as I have been taking them immediately before my meds.about half an hour before breakfast. I’ve also been taking Kefir natural yoghurt with11Bacillicus added. —Yes Cheese IS a hard one to lay off. .Best wishes from 🌹 Red Rose

[waveylines]

Ive been on Verapamil for a year. No constipation issues. Constipation is horrid you poor thing! What strength tablets are you on? A friend of mine suffers with constipation she makes up a mix of prunes, stewed raisins, figs and oranges -pretty potent and does the trick. Shes makes it up for the week and has a portion with plain youghurt every breakfast. Hope it helps you.

[2000RedRose in reply to waveylines]

Hello wavey lines I’m taking Perindapril ,Verapamil and Rivaroxaban .Only when I was changed 2 years ago, from Bisoprolol.to Verapamil did I start to have daily constipation and looking at the other Channel Blockers they all seem to have this as a side effect.That sounds a very tasty stewed fruit course for breakfast ,however I’m hoping to have a suggestion of a medication that won’t include this side effect ,so fingers crossed.All the Best 🌹 Red Rose

[Jaws66]

Yes, it constipates me too. (I'm on 3 x 80mg daily, FYI). Not chronic though, as long as I exercise and eat plenty of roughage. All bran and fruit for breakfast, plenty of fruit and veg the rest of the day. Unlike one of the other people here, I sometimes find probiotics can bung me up - but not always. I find some exercises particularly well at helping though - all core exercises, and star jumps make the biggest difference. Walking helps, but running is better. (Any day I'm stuck at my desk means trouble the next day). Pretty much any movement that involves bending/twisting repeatedly really helps me. It can be really boring, but the more the better, and more than once a day.

I was previously on a beta blocker, and had to come off it because of side effects, including chronic constipation. The only thing I found that helped with that was a lot of fibre and a pint of prune juice - and stay close to a toilet.

Good luck!

[2000RedRose in reply to Jaws66]

Hello Jaws66 I am aware that it seems to be desirable to walk,run.take exercise and I only wish I could do any of these things ,but unfortunately I can’t as my Afib and PoTS cause me to be very unbalanced and breathless when walking and I would be dizzy on exertion. As a more natural solution I have also used prune juice (A glass not quite a pint)- soft dried prunes ,and sometimes a handful of Liquorice Allsorts ( have to be Bassetts) I couldn’t tolerate the Bisoprolol either but it didn’t cause constipation.Thanks for connecting and interesting to hear how you are managing .Keep it up and all the best 🌹 Red Rose

[Aqua_1]

Yes I have been taking 40mg twice a day and it constipates me as well. I have started eating Bircher muesli and i am more regular. Highly recommend!

[2000RedRose in reply to Aqua_1]

Hi Aqua-1 That’s a very low dose to be causing constipation.I hate to think what it would be like for you if you had my dosage of 120 mgs, or double when it was upped .I’m not good at handling Muesli as I have Diverticulitis,but I do manage porridge.Best Wishes .Red 🌹 Rose

[Dollcollector]

I have just been put on verapamil and have been constipated ever since. I am normally O.K. but this pill is well known for causing constipation. I have a good diet of lots of fruit and vegetables and fibre and drink plenty of water all day long. I have been taking laxatives but even those don't work properly and as you say , you can't take laxatives permanently. Sorry l am not helping, but l am in the same position as you. If my body doesn't adjust to the verapamil l will ask my doctor to change my medication.

[2000RedRose]

Yes !—SNAP!, and all the best with that Dollcollector🌹Red Rose

[Bennera513]

I recently trialed Diltiazem (the other CCB in the Verapamil class). Extreme constipation. I was regular but stools were very hard to pass. I mean that literally..:). I tried changing the time of day I took it. I drank more water. I already ate lots of fiber. I started drinking prune juice and began taking Metamucil (Psyllium). Nothing worked and I had to reduce the dose, though laxatives were the next step. Later, Cardiologist recommended concomitant treatment with Diltiazem and Atenolol (Beta Blocker). I understand that particular combination is a no go with Verapamil, however. But it reduced the doses enough to where that particular side effect resolved. I ultimately had to give up on it due to other issues, but that combo successfully suppressed my ectopics. Good luck....it's no fun being 'stuck'.

[2000RedRose in reply to Bennera513]

Well Bennera 513 you certainly were put through the hoops with trial medications for your condition.I just wish I had been put on a few further trials,whether they worked or not at least I would have felt that someone was interested in giving me a better QOL. As you say it’s not a happy condition and has caused me anxiety for2 years now.Thanks for the Good Luck 🍀I know I’ll need it .🌹Red Rose 2000

[queseyo]

As I understand "Verapamil" is an anticoagulant (it may stop you having a struck) it does nothing to you AF, Treatment for AF required other meds. Best thing for you is taking to your GP and discuss your concerns, I'm not medical professional just suffer from AF for 10 years...lots of experiences about meds and so on. By the way, I'm on Rivaroxaban (as an anticoagulant and it causes me constipation...

[waveylines in reply to queseyo]

Verapamil is not an anti coagluant. It works by expanding the veins /arteries to increase blood flow, putting less stress on the heart. You need to take an anti coagulant as well as verapamil if you have Afib.

[2000RedRose in reply to waveylines]

yes waveylines — I agree ! Verapamil is a Channel blocker ,not an anti- coagulant —queseyo seems to be mistaken and on the wrong waveylines 😂🌹Red Rose

[waveylines in reply to 2000RedRose]

Hope you get sorted red rose -constipation is horrid. I hadnt realised that was a side effect....lol. Beta blockers interfered with my thyroid meds so a no go for me. We are all different so hopefully there is a med that suits you better.

[2000RedRose in reply to waveylines]

thanks waveylines. Yes I told my GP.yesterday that I didn’t think daily constipation for 2 years was a very healthy condition,so it’s just a waiting game to see if anyone comes up with an option for me .Fingers crossed.Nice to connect with you .All the very best .Red Rose🌹

[queseyo in reply to waveylines]

Waveylines, you are right, my sincere apologies 😌

[waveylines in reply to queseyo]

Awww no worries queseyo........the great thing about this site is all the wonderful people on it and the knowledge, experience they bring. We've all done it at some point!! - its good its spotted by someone so we can all be sure we are getting correct info as well as lovely support.

[KMRobbo]

I took verapamil for 20 months without constipation issues.

[2000RedRose in reply to KMRobbo]

Lucky,Lucky you.I’m VERY envious 😂👍Long may it last ! 🌹 Red Rose