Verapamil Hydrochloride Medication Summary
No separate FDA Medication Guide was found for this label. This summary is based on FDA/DailyMed prescribing information.
What is this medication?
Verapamil Hydrochloride is described in FDA/DailyMed prescribing information. No separate FDA Medication Guide was found for this label. This summary is based on FDA/DailyMed prescribing information.
What is this medication used for?
Verapamil hydrochloride extended-release capsules are indicated for the treatment of hypertension, to lower blood pressure. Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events, primarily strokes and myocardial infarctions. These benefits have been seen in controlled trials of antihypertensive drugs from a wide variety of pharmacologic classes including this drug. Control of high blood pressure should be part of comprehensive cardiovascular risk management, including, as appropriate, lipid control, diabetes management, antithrombotic therapy, smoking cessation, exercise, and limited sodium intake. Many patients will require more than one drug to achieve blood.
What should I know before taking it?
Verapamil HCl is contraindicated in: 1.Severe left ventricular dysfunction. (See WARNINGS.) 2.Hypotension (less than 90 mmHg systolic pressure) or cardiogenic shock. 3.Sick sinus syndrome (except in patients with a functioning artificial ventricular pacemaker). 4.Second- or third-degree AV block (except in patients with a functioning artificial ventricular pacemaker). 5.Patients with atrial flutter or atrial fibrillation and an accessory bypass tract (e.g., Wolff-Parkinson-White, Lown-Ganong-Levine syndromes). (See WARNINGS.) 6.Patients with known hypersensitivity to verapamil hydrochloride.
What important warnings are listed?
WARNINGS Heart Failure Verapamil has a negative inotropic effect which, in most patients, is compensated by its afterload reduction (decreased systemic vascular resistance) properties without a net impairment of ventricular performance. In clinical experience with 4,954 patients, 87 (1.8%) developed congestive heart failure or pulmonary edema. Verapamil should be avoided in patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction (e.g., ejection fraction less than 30% or moderate to severe symptoms of cardiac failure) and in patients with any degree of ventricular dysfunction if they are receiving a beta-adrenergic blocker. (See PRECAUTIONS: Drug Interactions .) Patients with milder ventricular.
How is this medication usually taken?
DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Essential Hypertension The dose of verapamil hydrochloride extended-release capsules should be individualized by titration. The usual daily dose of extended-release, verapamil hydrochloride capsules, in clinical trials has been 240 mg given by mouth once daily in the morning. However, initial doses of 120 mg a day may be warranted in patients who may have an increased response to verapamil (e.g., elderly, small people, etc.). Upward titration should be based on therapeutic efficacy and safety evaluated approximately 24 hours after dosing. The antihypertensive effects of verapamil hydrochloride extended-release capsules are evident within the first week of therapy.
What side effects are listed?
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 verapamil hydrochloride extended-release capsules 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%.
What interactions are listed?
The FDA/DailyMed label should be reviewed for complete details.
Where can I find the official prescribing information?
Review the full prescribing information on DailyMed: https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=c86084bc-33aa-eece-5a96-6c0dad2d1a32
⚠️ Disclaimer
This summary is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult your doctor, pharmacist, or other licensed healthcare professional before starting, stopping, or changing any medicine. Read full medical disclaimer.