Clusterheadaches.com Message Board


    
      
        Clusterheadaches.com Message Board
        (http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi)
      

        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2003 >> Verapamil Side Effects
        
(Message started by: Hound_Dogg on Mar 14^th, 2003, 9:38am)

Title: Verapamil Side Effects
Post by Hound_Dogg on Mar 14^th, 2003, 9:38am

My Clusters have returned :'( >:(. Last week I began Verapamil (Calan 120mg). Doctor plans to slowly increase. Anyway, I have begun to get some strange side effects, that I do not recall from the last Cycle.

1) Really revved up feeling. Like I just shot 100 cc's of caffeine straight into my jugular.

2) A disconnected, dream-like feeling.

The verapamil is all I'm taking, right now. Can't take imitrex, and O2 never helped.

Has anyone had these type of side effects, or any others, with such a low dose.

Jim

Title: Re: Verapamil Side Effects
Post by maggie_may on Mar 14^th, 2003, 10:02am

Hi Jim,

Sorry to hear the beast is back at you again :(

When I was first diagnosed back in November, my neuro gave me 120mg verapamil to start off with. I think I remember having that same sensation in the beginning as you - the very energetic feeling. Also, I was getting an excellent night's sleep - for the first time in a long time - when the beast decided not to visit. I've also had really bad mood swings which may or may not be a cause of the verap. since I have another problem that may cause that too.

As I can remember, the 120 mg did almost nothing for me and I was upped to 180mg, which helped for the first 2 months but then went back to doing nothing. I'm currently at 240mg. I'm noticing now that I'm actually quite tired more often during the day, even after getting a night's sleep. Another problem I'm having is that I go to sleep around 10pm and I'm up between 4:30am and 6am (and I don't even have to be up until 7am) every morning like clockwork - even on weekends... *sigh* Maybe that's a possible side-effect too, but I'm not sure.

Hey it beats bashing my head in :D

wishing pfdans for you soon

maggie

Title: Re: Verapamil Side Effects
Post by cbolony on Mar 14^th, 2003, 11:04am

Quote:

Can't take imitrex, and O2 never helped.

Hound Dog I take verapamil 480mg a day no side effects.What kind of imitrex are you taking pills,nasal spray or injections.The Injection always stop a ch for me in about 10 mins.

Title: Re: Verapamil Side Effects
Post by eyes_afire on Mar 14^th, 2003, 11:31am

Hi Jim. Geez, the CH beast is sure making his/her rounds lately. During Verapamil ramp-up and taper-down I've experienced a little bit of dizzyness and strange feeling. I don't know how to describe the strange feeling. After my body got used to the change, those side effects ended. Bad news for me: verapamil made me a bit tired and light-headed. Good news for me: verapamil was effective against CH at a relatively low dose of 240mg.

I'll bet your side effects will subside, but it is probably worth mentioning to your doc just in case.

When push comes to shove, or fang comes to claw, I can live with verapamil side effects if it de-fangs the CH Beast.

Title: Re: Verapamil Side Effects
Post by Tim_w on Mar 14^th, 2003, 11:44pm

Dogg
Iam on 720mlg of Verapamil sr / no side effects/ been on it for 3-1/2 years

Verapamil er did nothing
PFDAN to ya Tim_w

Title: Re: Verapamil Side Effects
Post by Tim_w on Mar 14^th, 2003, 11:46pm

Get EKG every 6 months!!!
Tim_w

Title: Re: Verapamil Side Effects
Post by Hound_Dogg on Mar 18^th, 2003, 7:24am

Thanks for all the responses...I do seem to be getting a little more used to the effects. Just hope it doesn't go on, each time they "up" the dose.

Jim

Title: Re: Verapamil Side Effects
Post by justin on Mar 18^th, 2003, 11:04am

first time using verapamil i was awfully constipated . i stopped using it to try something else. when i came back to using it i'm not so constipated. just a little. i'm always tired. neuro says that is probably from the verapamil. that's about it
jd

Title: Re: Verapamil Side Effects
Post by K. on Mar 18^th, 2003, 5:27pm

My effective dose of Verapamil is 480mg. I start at 180mg and SLOWLY go up from there. But every time I increase I get really dizzy....light headed. My bp gets really low and I experience some chest pain. Then there is the constipation problem which is very common with Verapamil. For me, once I'm on the 480mg...after about a week..all the side effects lessen in severity, and best of all...the beast has a harder time remembering my address!!!!!
Karen