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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2003 >> Verapamil and Heart Palpatations
        
(Message started by: violet on Oct 21^st, 2003, 8:35pm)

Title: Verapamil and Heart Palpatations
Post by violet on Oct 21^st, 2003, 8:35pm

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 : ???

Title: Re: Verapamil and Heart Palpatations
Post by Prense on Oct 21^st, 2003, 9:27pm

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.

Title: Re: Verapamil and Heart Palpatations
Post by eyes_afire on Oct 21^st, 2003, 10:54pm

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

Title: Re: Verapamil and Heart Palpatations
Post by sandie99 on Oct 23^rd, 2003, 4:25am

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

Title: Re: Verapamil and Heart Palpatations
Post by ZAIRA on Oct 23^rd, 2003, 8:14am

Hi Violet, ;;D

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…. [smiley=headbanger.gif]

Best regards, Zaira [smiley=hug.gif]

Title: Re: Verapamil and Heart Palpatations
Post by Carlos on Oct 23^rd, 2003, 5:12pm

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!!

Title: Re: Verapamil and Heart Palpatations
Post by Prense on Oct 23^rd, 2003, 6:11pm

on 10/23/03 at 17:12:36, 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.

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

Title: Re: Verapamil and Heart Palpatations
Post by eyes_afire on Oct 23^rd, 2003, 6:44pm

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

Title: Re: Verapamil and Heart Palpatations
Post by 5-string on Oct 23^rd, 2003, 7:44pm

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..

Title: Re: Verapamil and Heart Palpatations
Post by violet on Oct 23^rd, 2003, 8:15pm

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

Title: Re: Verapamil and Heart Palpatations
Post by 5-string on Oct 23^rd, 2003, 8:27pm

I don't have any experience with nimotop.
Have you tried abortives? imetrex,oxygen?

Title: Re: Verapamil and Heart Palpatations
Post by violet on Oct 24^th, 2003, 10:07am

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

Title: Re: Verapamil and Heart Palpatations
Post by Prense on Oct 24^th, 2003, 6:25pm

on 10/24/03 at 10:07:06, violet wrote:

I use O2, verapamil, aggrenox and nitro.

Nitro is an abortive?? I was pretty sure that it is used to induce attacks...

Title: Re: Verapamil and Heart Palpatations
Post by Unsolved on Oct 25^th, 2003, 1:53am

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~

Title: Re: Verapamil and Heart Palpatations
Post by Karla on Oct 27^th, 2003, 1:00pm

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.