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violet
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Verapamil and Heart Palpatations
« on: Oct 21st, 2003, 8:35pm » |
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Hi Group,
My Neuro turned up my dose of Verapamil last week to 600 mg SR. I started having heart palpatations that really hurt, and made me cough alot and lose my breath. These happened when I walked around, or went up and down stairs. Anyone ever have this from too much Verapamil? My blood pressure went down to 80/60, and my pulse went really low too. Kind of scary. We're bringing the Verap. dose back down now. Neuro said the palps were from the Verap.
Any comments?
Thanks,
Vi : ???
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Prense
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Re: Verapamil and Heart Palpatations
« Reply #1 on: Oct 21st, 2003, 9:27pm » |
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I'm at 480mg and never experienced that. I would be really concerned. That is a LOW BP. From 0-480mg, I have had negligable effects on my BP.
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eyes_afire
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Re: Verapamil and Heart Palpatations
« Reply #2 on: Oct 21st, 2003, 10:54pm » |
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Hi Violet,
My heart gets fluttery sometimes when I increase or decrease verapamil dose, but not to the severe degree that you speak of. It eventually goes away after a few days of aclimation.
--- Steve
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sandie99
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Re: Verapamil and Heart Palpatations
« Reply #3 on: Oct 23rd, 2003, 4:25am » |
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Hi Violet! 
Sounds familiar to me, too!
Verapamil did low my low blood pressure so much that I fainted several times, so be careful!
I had to faint 4 times before my doc understood that it's a good idea to low the dose... 
Best wishes & PFdays,
sandie99
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"Do what you can and let God take care of the rest. Leave your heart wide open and always wish for the best" (Sanna Hillu)
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ZAIRA
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Re: Verapamil and Heart Palpatations
« Reply #4 on: Oct 23rd, 2003, 8:14am » |
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Hi Violet, 
4 mouth ago I did an heart examination and I was diagnosed of a Bradycardian and heart Arrithmya (alteration of the normal rhythm of the heart beats).
My beats was 48/min and the pressure in 100/50... in these conditions Verpamil is not to be adviced! Since I’ve never had heart problems, this alteration was due to the high dosage of Verapamil (960 mg).
Reducing Verapamil my “heart’s problems” are totally away…. 
Best regards, Zaira 
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Carlos
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Re: Verapamil and Heart Palpatations
« Reply #5 on: Oct 23rd, 2003, 5:12pm » |
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Hi Vi:
Verapamil is a heavy duty channel blocker- look in a PDR and the side effects will scare the heck out of you. My doc prescribed it to me with little success on my CH's. It amazes me that doctors prescribe such drugs. I also have MVP and do not want to take anything that could mess with my heart functions. That's why I'm ramping up with Magnesium ( a natural channel blocker- without all the horrible side effects such as heart failure, extreme low blood pressure, liver problems to name a few). I hope by the time my CH's are to arrive (mid to late December), my magnesium level will be healthy (and PF!). Some may have found help with this drug but I pass. Good luck to you and be careful with verapamil!!
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Prense
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Re: Verapamil and Heart Palpatations
« Reply #6 on: Oct 23rd, 2003, 6:11pm » |
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on Oct 23rd, 2003, 5:12pm, Carlos wrote:| Verapamil is a heavy duty channel blocker- look in a PDR and the side effects will scare the heck out of you. My doc prescribed it to me with little success on my CH's. It amazes me that doctors prescribe such drugs. |
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Careful...docs prescribe verap because it works for many of us. Don't take my word for it...check out the stats. http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/survey.cgi
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eyes_afire
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Re: Verapamil and Heart Palpatations
« Reply #7 on: Oct 23rd, 2003, 6:44pm » |
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Whoa. In general, for the average healthy adult, verapamil is one of the most benign medications when compared to other CH meds. Many people here take verapamil because it is one of the more effective preventative medications with the least side effects. There are no medications, prescription or OTC that are free from 'side effects'. In the PDR, they have to list all statistically significant side effects that occur during clinical trials... whether they are actually due to the medicine or not. What totally amazes me is that so many neurologists DON'T prescribe verapamil... but would rather try seizure meds that have a higher incidence of side effects, without giving verapamil a chance.
--- Steve
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5-string
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Re: Verapamil and Heart Palpatations
« Reply #8 on: Oct 23rd, 2003, 7:44pm » |
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Hi Violet,
What was your dose before it went up to 600mg?
What was the reason for the increase?
I started at 240mg. once a day and it pulled me out of cycle. For me it was like a miracle drug. I had no side effects at all. Once out of cycle I quit taking it because of the "risks". Now there back.
A lessen I learned the hard way and now I know better. I'm back on it and give the stuff 2 BIG thumbs up.
I hope I have helped. Take care...
...Mark..
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violet
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Re: Verapamil and Heart Palpatations
« Reply #9 on: Oct 23rd, 2003, 8:15pm » |
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I was on 480, and still having symptoms, so we went up, but wow, that was a mistake! Now my Doc wants to add another calcium channel blocker to the mix, nimotop. He says that it only acts on the brain arteries, and not the rest of the body.
Vi
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5-string
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Re: Verapamil and Heart Palpatations
« Reply #10 on: Oct 23rd, 2003, 8:27pm » |
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I don't have any experience with nimotop.
Have you tried abortives? imetrex,oxygen?
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violet
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Re: Verapamil and Heart Palpatations
« Reply #11 on: Oct 24th, 2003, 10:07am » |
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I use O2, verapamil, aggrenox and nitro. I can't use imitrex or any ssri's because I have had strokes in the past from my migraines. I guess I'm only allowed vaso-dialators.
Vi
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Prense
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Re: Verapamil and Heart Palpatations
« Reply #12 on: Oct 24th, 2003, 6:25pm » |
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on Oct 24th, 2003, 10:07am, violet wrote:| I use O2, verapamil, aggrenox and nitro. |
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Nitro is an abortive?? I was pretty sure that it is used to induce attacks...
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Unsolved
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Re: Verapamil and Heart Palpatations
« Reply #13 on: Oct 25th, 2003, 1:53am » |
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I can't take more than 80mg X 3 a day or my heart rate bottoms out. I think my heart rate was like 20 bpm on 5 a day. I just can't handle it I guess. MHNI doc said thats too bad cause a higher dose might possibly help stop the CH attacks.
Also, I agree w/ Prense...Nitro would induce an attack...right? My x was a paramedic and she said if you even touched a Nitro pill ~ major headache.
~Unsolved~
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Karla
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Re: Verapamil and Heart Palpatations
« Reply #14 on: Oct 27th, 2003, 1:00pm » |
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I was taking 600? mg of verapamil and started having real low blood pressure and irregular heart beat. It is no fun. I was immediatly taken off the verapamil and the problem went away. It is not for everyone.
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Karla
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