Calan (Verapamil)

General information

Calan is called a calcium channel blocker. It works by relaxing blood vessels so blood can flow more easily. It is used with or without other medications to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). Lowering high blood pressure helps prevent strokes, heart attacks, and kidney problems. Calan is also used to prevent chest pain (angina). It is also used to control your heart rate if you have a fast or irregular heartbeat (such as atrial fibrillation).

Directions

Take Calan exactly as prescribed by your doctor. The recommended starting dose for treating high blood pressure (hypertension) is 80 mg three times per day. A lower starting dose (40 mg three times daily) may be recommended for elderly people, or those who have liver problems. Typical doses for treating chest pain (angina) range from 80 mg to 120 mg three times daily. If you are being treated for high blood pressure, keep using this medication even if you feel fine. Take it at the same times each day.

Precautions

Before taking Calan you should talk with your doctor if you have kidney disease, kidney failure, liver disease, liver failure, cirrhosis, congestive heart failure, nerve-muscle disorder (muscular dystrophy), Myasthenia gravis, low blood pressure, sick sinus syndrome, heart disease. This drug may make you dizzy. Do not drive or perform tasks that require alertness. Limit alcoholic beverages. Avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while using this medication.

Contraindications

You should not take Calan if you are allergic to Calan, verapamil hydrochloride, or any of the inactive components of the drug, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have severe left ventricular dysfunction, sick sinus syndrome, heart block, low blood pressure (hypotension), Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, Lown-Ganong-Levine syndrome, heart attack, fluid in your lungs.

Possible side effect

Get emergency medical help if you have fast or slow heartbeats, nausea, fever, sore throat, headache, peeling, dizziness, stomach pain, red skin rash, rapid weight gain, difficulty breathing, loss of appetite, feeling short of breath, dark urine, yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), constipation, itching, hives, swelling of your face, lips, tongue. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor.

Drug interactions

Tell your doctor about all other medications you use, especially: carbamazepine, lithium, HIV or AIDS medicine (indinavir, atazanavir, fosamprenavir, ritonavir), phenobarbital, heart rhythm medications (quinidine, disopyramide, amiodarone), rifampin, beta-blockers (propranolol, bisoprolol, metoprolol, atenolol), digoxin, cyclosporine, antifungal medications (voriconazole, itraconazole, fluconazole, ketoconazole), antibiotics (clarithromycin, telithromycin, erythromycin), cimetidine, lovastatin, sedatives (triazolam, midazolam), theophylline, buspirone. Interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Tell your doctor about all prescription, over-the-counter, and herbal medications you are taking.

Missed dose

Take the missed dose as soon as possible. Skip the missed dose if it is time for your next scheduled dose. Don't take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Overdose

If you think you have overdosed the medicine seek emergency medical help at once. The overdose symptoms are slow heartbeat, fainting, severe dizziness.

Storage

Store the medicine at room temperature between 59-86 degrees F (15-30 degrees C) away from light and moisture. Store it in a tight container. Keep all drugs away from reach of children and pets.

Note

The information presented at the site has a general character. Note please this information cannot be used for self-treatment and self diagnosis. You should consult with your doctor or health care adviser regarding any specific instructions of your condition. The information is reliable, but we concede it could contain mistakes. We are not responsible for any direct, indirect, special or other damage caused by use of this information on the site and also for consequences of self-treatment.