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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> Verap side effect
        
(Message started by: BigCoffinHunter on Oct 19^th, 2006, 9:37pm)

Title: Verap side effect
Post by BigCoffinHunter on Oct 19^th, 2006, 9:37pm

My cycle has been over for a couple weeks, but I'm still on the Verap as per Neuro's orders. Over the weekend, my legs started to hurt, and Sunday night I see my ankles are swollen huge. Took me a while to link it to the Verap, and I read that it's a side effect. Call Neuro, he cuts me way back, problem goes away.
Anyone else have this happen? I hate to avoid the Verap next time since it seems to work so well. Is that something that could cause serious problems, or is it just obnoxious?

Title: Re: Verap side effect
Post by burnt-toast on Oct 21^st, 2006, 5:35am

Yes,

Had a problem with leg/ankle swelling and pain when my prescribed dosage went over 720mg. The swelling was severe and painful - walking was uncomfortable and the affected areas extremely sensitive. An adjustment in your dosage may be necessary - I dropped back to 720mg and that corrected the problem.

No lingering effects that I can identify but I did contact the doc. and we addressed the problem immediately.

It is a common side effect of Verapamil and my doc. wasn't comfortable with it but didn't specifically reference it being serious. I'll have to ask for more information during this month's visit.

Best wishes,

Tom

Title: Re: Verap side effect
Post by brewcrew on Oct 21^st, 2006, 8:49am

I've never been saddled with that unfortunate side-effect.

Constipation? That's another story.

Title: Re: Verap side effect
Post by roy21302 on Oct 21^st, 2006, 12:34pm

The swelling of the ankles is a common effect of verap, the higher the dose the more chance of the swelling appearing. If you keep the dose up the swelling will progress up into the calf muscles. This has happened to me several times, my Neuro was not worried by it, and as soon as I lowered the dose the swelling subsided.
To keep it down if you don't want to or can't lower the dose, try to sit with your leg up for an hour or so am and pm. Also try to increase the distance you walk everyday, it helps a lot and worked for me Cheers Roy :)

Title: Re: Verap side effect
Post by burnt-toast on Oct 22^nd, 2006, 8:31am

roy21302 makes a good point. Periodically elevating your feet can help with this problem.

Even at 720mg - long periods of time on my feet in my shop can result in swelling if I don't rest me dogs.

Even short rest periods are very beneficial.

Best wishes,

Tom

Title: Re: Verap side effect
Post by BigCoffinHunter on Oct 23^rd, 2006, 11:44am

This happened at a dose of 480. As soon as I was lowered to 160 it went away. I'm through with my cycle anyway, so not a big deal. Just kinda freaked me out the way it suddenly started swelling like that.

Title: Re: Verap side effect
Post by Carl_D on Oct 27^th, 2006, 6:52am

I never had any adverse effects from Verapamil, including the consti....pation.
That is, until I started on the energy drinks.

Come to find out, the stuff in Red Bull and most energy drinks, Taurine, interacts with Verapamil and can exagerrate levels in your system which can produce severe heart palpitations and possible heart attack. I found out the hard way a few weeks ago, and even though I haven't had one energy drink since, I still get palpitations. Going to the Doc on the 7th and expecting a stress test on the ticker.

Peace,
Carl D