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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> side effects w/verapamil
        
(Message started by: boomer52 on Jan 1^st, 2006, 5:10pm)

Title: side effects w/verapamil
Post by boomer52 on Jan 1^st, 2006, 5:10pm

What side effects if any has anyone had with verapamil? I take 480 mgs.

Title: Re: side effects w/verapamil
Post by Racer1_NC on Jan 1^st, 2006, 7:50pm

Your bowels will probably go on strike....other than that, it hasn't bothered me.

Bill

Title: Re: side effects w/verapamil
Post by Redd715 on Jan 1^st, 2006, 8:14pm

You are still standing upright I presume? Besides what Bill states, remember NO Grapefruit...

The med dropped my BP dangerously low, so I had to go off of it. Hope the constipation isn't bad enough to drive you off the med if it's helping with the CH.

Keep us posted.

Title: Re: side effects w/verapamil
Post by E-Double on Jan 1^st, 2006, 10:18pm

lethargy!!!!!!!

Title: Re: side effects w/verapamil
Post by boomer52 on Jan 2^nd, 2006, 2:56am

So far my bowels haven't gone on strike and I am still standing upright. I don't think I am lethargic uhhhhhhhhh, just kidding. So far everything is good and thanks for the info. I am also taking lipator for high cholestrol and I just wonder if all of these meds will mess with my heart, liver or something. Also am taking imitrex whenever I need to.

Title: Re: side effects w/verapamil
Post by Jasmyn on Jan 2^nd, 2006, 10:54am

on 01/02/06 at 02:56:46, boomer52 wrote:

Yip, what Bill, Red and E-Double said plus heart palpitations and nausea if you up your dosage.

Just know you will never be able to be an organ donor but you are welcome to learn to play an organ, we have quite a few musicians here ;;D

Title: Re: side effects w/verapamil
Post by Guiseppi on Jan 2^nd, 2006, 11:03am

Since verapamil is a likely option for me on the 11th when I FINALLY get to see a real live doctor....I was hoping someone else would have answered this question before I had to ask it. My wife...loving supportive goddess of my universe that she is, asked me to check with the guys on the site and see if the high doses of verapamil caused any manly unpleasant side effects. Something she had read up on. You can e-mail me straight if you're not comfortable posting answers, thanks in advance. You people truly are my lifeline to sanity these days.

Guiseppi

Title: Re: side effects w/verapamil
Post by zanychef on Jan 2^nd, 2006, 1:11pm

us and sanity ?? somethings wrong ;) [smiley=laugh.gif] [smiley=laugh.gif]

Title: Re: side effects w/verapamil
Post by totka2 on Jan 2^nd, 2006, 1:23pm

Sleepiness and low blood pressure (90/60 mmHg after 2 strong coffee)

Title: Re: side effects w/verapamil
Post by Kris_in_SJ on Jan 2^nd, 2006, 8:11pm

Can't answer the "manly" question, since I'm of the opposite sex. However, Verapamil is a beta blocker usually given for heart problems as opposed to blood pressure. That being said, if you are possibly experiencing a decreased libido, it's more likely due to the fact you're in cycle and using all your energy just to survive it.

Lowered sex drive is much more common with calcium-channel blockers and other types of blood pressure meds.

Hang in there - and eat plenty of fiber.

Hugs,

Kris

Title: Re: side effects w/verapamil
Post by Doug_L on Jan 2^nd, 2006, 10:09pm

Verapamill is a calcium channel blocker.
Do have a full physical done every year if you take verapamill or lithium.
I just got out of the hospital ICU unit from an 11-day stay with 5 days out of ICU.
They told me that the verapamill has caused my liver to enlarge and also the lithium has caused damage to my kidneys that cannot be reversed.
I was on that cocktail for years and can now never go back on either of those drugs again.
This is very depressing for me as that was my working cocktail to keep my cluster at bay.
So now it’s back to the starting gates to see what else will mess up my system.
DougL

Title: Re: side effects w/verapamil
Post by Redd715 on Jan 2^nd, 2006, 11:12pm

Topomax is well known for the kidney issues and stones. I wasn't aware Lithium could as well. You are correct that Verap is a Calcium Channel Blocker.

There are other weapons in this war against the beast. Hope you find something else as a working coctail.

Title: Re: side effects w/verapamil
Post by boomer52 on Jan 2^nd, 2006, 11:56pm

Thanks for the info everyone, I guess I won't be an organ donor. I go to a new neurologist the 13th, maybe I will find out something different from him. Thanks again, Jay

Title: Re: side effects w/verapamil
Post by burnt-toast on Jan 3^rd, 2006, 5:12am

Currently at 720mg per day - good diet and fluid intake can usually eliminate potential bowel issues.

As with just about every med. prescribed for CH there are a number potential side effects. More common at higher dosages is swelling of legs and ankles when taking Verapamil.

The following links contain some good information but also discuss with your pharmacist who often can provide more detailed information.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginformation.html

http://search.drugs.com/search.php

Tom

Title: Re: side effects w/verapamil
Post by zwibbs/Scott on Jan 3^rd, 2006, 8:14am

Now you had to mention effects on " manly" functions--GREAT!!-------Only kidding---The only thing that a doctor friend of mine said about Verapamil was NOT to make any sudden movements as it will lower your blood pressure on a dime...will lead to possible dizziness and light headedness ( spell check).

Title: Re: side effects w/verapamil
Post by BK on Jan 3^rd, 2006, 4:42pm

on 01/03/06 at 08:14:54, zwibbs/Scott wrote:

I can testify to the sudden movements leading to dizziness. Doesn't last but for a few moments but I wouldn't want to be standing at the edge of a cliff when it happens. 480 mg makes me a little tired but can still get on the treadmill. It's been said on other Verap. threads but if the bowels don't like the med, make sure to drink extra fluids, increase fiber or take a softener.

Title: Re: side effects w/verapamil
Post by Jonny on Jan 3^rd, 2006, 4:51pm

on 01/02/06 at 22:09:41, Doug_L wrote:

I take it you were not having the requied blood work every six months when on this cocktail?

Title: Re: side effects w/verapamil
Post by Kris_in_SJ on Jan 3^rd, 2006, 8:05pm

OK - I feel really stupid here!

I believe I said that Verapamil was a Beta-Blocker - consider my former nursing license revoked permanently!

Verapamil is a calcium-channel blocker (it's the reason it works on clusters). I consider myself thoroughly slapped upside the head!

It tends to be ACE Inhibitors that interfere with libido.

Mea Culpa!

Kris

Title: Re: side effects w/verapamil
Post by Jonny on Jan 3^rd, 2006, 8:32pm

on 01/03/06 at 20:05:54, Kris_in_SJ wrote:

Dont sweat it, Babe...there are so many names and descriptions of these things its stupid.

My Neuro says that I have been taking this shit so long that I should up and lower to dosage as I need to, cause I know more about it than he does.....Now thats scary....LOL ;;D

Title: Re: side effects w/verapamil
Post by Doug_L on Jan 3^rd, 2006, 10:38pm

Nope Jenny
The PCP I had told me I was on a low of a dose that I did not need it.
Now I know better.
The verapamill actually caused my heart to beat from the inside out. I had to have a pacemaker put in while I was in the ICU. 240meg of verap 3x’x a day for 10 years and all of the sudden I almost popped off the face of this earth.
DougL

Title: Re: side effects w/verapamil
Post by Mr.YL on Jan 6^th, 2006, 10:11pm

:) No clusters so use your own brain

Title: Re: side effects w/verapamil
Post by Katherinecm on May 14^th, 2006, 5:53pm

I had a weird, all over my head, dull headache about 20 minutes after taking it. I was lethargic all the time. Combined with trex I think it is what pushed me into the chronic state... suddenly my hits went from being predictible like clockwork to more frequent, more severe, and with no predictable schedule at all.

Katy

Title: Re: side effects w/verapamil
Post by madaline on May 14^th, 2006, 8:33pm

Hi, I have just read what Doug_L wrote about as the effects of the Verapamil on his liver. I have been on 600mg. time release pills (all taken at once, every night) for about three years. I asked the cardiologist as well as my neurologist about side effects and they all swore that you can take it long term without it affecting your other organs. I think the doctors I spoke to are not taking into consideration the high dosage we are all taking.Now I am a wreck listening to Doug's experience. Has anyone else had such a terrible thing happen to them as a result of long term Ver. use?
I hope you are staying well, Doug.
Madaline

Title: Re: side effects w/verapamil
Post by Gator on May 15^th, 2006, 7:41pm

Just to add something I haven't seen here...It is recommended that your doctor do an ECG before every dosage increase over 480mg.

Title: Re: side effects w/verapamil
Post by I_can_dance on May 17^th, 2006, 12:12am

My husband just went from 240mg SR verapamil without side-effects or effect up to 1-120mg SR at night +4- 80mg short acting during the day 30-60 minutes prior to a hit. Total mg now 440 for the past 4 days with noticeable lethargy and 1 episode of racing heart beats. He also started 2-3mg trex injections that aren't helpful. Does the lethargy usually get better and should he see a change in his CH by now? He started nearly 3 weeks ago.
Paula

Title: Re: side effects w/verapamil
Post by Carl_D on May 18^th, 2006, 5:21pm

I am on 720mgs a day and have noticed no real side effects to be honest. No dizziness, no constipation and no e/d.... only pain meds give me e/d.

Also, no clusters for 3 months either!

Verapamil GOOOOOOOOD!
Carl D

PS - I do not do the lithium combo, as they tried me on that back in 95 at MHNI. I had to go off of the lithium as it made me very very sick.

Title: Re: side effects w/verapamil
Post by madaline on May 18^th, 2006, 6:30pm

HI Paula, Just to let everyone know what happened with Ver. and me recently. I have been on 600mg. SR pills, taken all at once, at night, for about three years. A few months ago I got my prescription refilled and it was a different generic. The pharmacist said it would not make a difference. Well, after about two weeks on it, every night three hours after I took the pills, my heart would race so hard I thought it was going to pop out of my chest. It would last for about four hours. I lived with that for about three months and then I thought it might do damage to my heart so I asked for the generic I had been taking previously. My pharmacist said he no longer deals with that drug company. I went around to pharmacies until I got to Walgreens and they carried the pill I had originally been taking. I fill my prescriptions there now. As soon as I went back on the first generic, the heart racing stopped. It was explained that generics have a leeway of3 or 5% in the amt. of medication they can contain. Something like that. So different generics will have different effects because of their different compositions. If anyone wants to know the one I am taking, I can probably find out. Even tho the verap. helps my daytime attacks, it has been 10 years since I have slept at night!! And it does take a good
2 weeks to kick in. Give it a chance. Good luck to all. Madaline