Experiences with
Verapamil

ContraindicationsHow it's used (previously Dosage and administration)Side effectsPregnancyInteractions

Verapamil is not suitable for some people. For example, check with your doctor if you have liver problems or low blood pressure.

Verapamil comes as tablets or liquid that you take 1 to 3 times a day. Follow the instructions that come with your medicine.

Common side effects of verapamil include constipation, headaches and feeling dizzy. More serious side effects can happen in rare cases.

Verapamil is not often used during pregnancy. Always check with a pharmacist or doctor before taking it.

It can cause problems to take verapamil with some other medicines, such as antibiotics or antifungal medicines.

Who can take verapamil

Most adults and children aged 1 year and over can take verapamil.

Who may not be able to take verapamil

Verapamil is not suitable for some people. To make sure it's safe for you, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you:

have ever had an allergic reaction to verapamil or any other medicine
have liver or kidney problems
have low blood pressure (hypotension)
have a blood disorder known as porphyria
have any other heart problems, including heart failure, or a very slow or irregular heart rate
have Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, a heart condition
are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or breastfeeding
have a condition that affects your muscles such as myasthenia gravis, Lambert-Eaten myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) or Duchenne muscular dystrophy (MD)

How to take verapamil

Verapamil comes as standard tablets, slow-release (long-acting) tablets, and a liquid (oral solution).

Slow-release tablets release the medicine gradually into your body. This means you do not need to take them as often.

Swallow your tablets whole with a drink of water. Do not chew or crush them, as it's important that they go into your stomach before they dissolve.

You can take verapamil at any time of day, but try to take it around the same time every day.

If you're taking verapamil as a liquid, it will come with a plastic syringe or spoon to help you take the right amount. If you do not get one, ask your pharmacist for one. Do not use a kitchen teaspoon as it will not give you the right amount.

You can take verapamil with or without food.

It's important not to eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while you're taking this medicine. Grapefruit can increase the amount of verapamil in your body and make side effects worse.

Common side effects of verapamil

There are things you can do to help cope with the side effects of verapamil:

Get more fibre into your diet, such as fresh fruit and vegetables and cereals, and drink plenty of water. Try to exercise more regularly, for example, by going for a daily walk or run. If you can, it may also help to increase your level of exercise.

Stick to simple meals and do not eat rich or spicy food. It might help to take your verapamil after a meal or snack.

If you are being sick, try to take small, frequent sips of water to avoid dehydration. Signs of dehydration include peeing less than usual or having dark, strong-smelling pee.

If you take the combined contraceptive pill or progestogen-only pill and you're being sick, your contraception may not protect you from pregnancy. Check the pill packet for advice.

Speak to a pharmacist or doctor if you're being sick for more than 1 or 2 days.

Try cutting down on coffee and tea. It might help to keep the room cool and use a fan. You could also spray your face with cool water or sip cold or iced drinks.

The flushing should go away after a few days.

Make sure you rest and drink plenty of fluids. Paracetamol is safe to take with verapamil. Talk to your doctor if they do not go away or are severe.

If verapamil makes you feel dizzy, stop what you're doing and sit or lie down until you feel better. If it makes you feel tired make sure you rest and drink plenty of fluids. Do not drink alcohol as this may make your symptoms worse.

Do not drive, ride a bike or operate tools or machinery until you feel OK.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if the advice on how to cope does not help and a side effect is still bothering you or does not go away.

Verapamil and pregnancy

You can take verapamil during pregnancy, although it's not commonly used.

If you take verapamil to treat high blood pressure you will usually be switched to a different medicine.

If you're taking verapamil for angina or heart rhythm problems then you should have an appointment with a pregnancy specialist (obstetrician) and a heart specialist (cardiologist) to discuss your medicine. It's important to keep taking verapamil until you have your review.

Verapamil and breastfeeding

If your baby is healthy, it's OK to take verapamil while you're breastfeeding.

Verapamil passes into breast milk in tiny amounts. It has not been known to cause any side effects in breastfed babies.

It's important to keep taking verapamil to keep you well. Breastfeeding will also benefit both you and your baby.

It's very rare for breastfed babies to have side effects from medicines you're taking. But it's important to keep monitoring your baby if you're taking any medicine while breastfeeding.

Contact your healthcare professional or call 111 as soon as possible if you notice that your baby:

is not feeding as well as usual, or not gaining weight as expected
is unusually sleepy or irritable
is being sick (vomiting)
is unusually pale
has a rash

If your baby has any symptoms that are not listed, or if you're worried about them, you can also call 111 or contact any healthcare professional.

Carry on taking the medicine, and keep breastfeeding as usual until you've got advice about your baby's symptoms.

Cautions with other medicines

Some medicines can affect the way verapamil works.

Taking verapamil with other medicines that lower your blood pressure can sometimes lower it too much. This may make you feel dizzy or faint. Tell your doctor if this happens to you, as they may need to change your dose.

Tell your doctor before starting verapamil if you're taking any other medicines, including:

antibiotics, such as clarithromycin, erythromycin or rifampicin
antifungal medicines, such as itraconazole
digoxin or ivabradine, medicines used for heart failure
flecainide or quinidine, medicines used to treat arrhythmias
dabigatran, a medicine to prevent blood clots
darunavir or ritonavir, medicines that treat HIV or hepatitis C
epilepsy medicines like carbamazepine or phenytoin
medicines that suppress your immune system, such as cyclosporin or tacrolimus
statins (medicine used to lower cholesterol) such as simvastatin or atorvastatin
colchicine, a medicine used to treat gout

These are not all the medicines that may cause problems if you take them with verapamil. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicine packet.