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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2003 >> Verapamil and alcohol
        
(Message started by: HoosierFan on Dec 30^th, 2003, 7:21pm)

Title: Verapamil and alcohol
Post by HoosierFan on Dec 30^th, 2003, 7:21pm

Hi, I am newcomer to the site and a relative newcomer to the headaches as well. I experienced my first cycle at age 34, and have now been PF for 6 days now with verapamil after about three weeks of headaches.

My question is regarding the interaction with alcohol and verapamil. I think I read somewhere that you shouldn't take the medication with alcohol, but it doesn't say on the bottle. I am by no means a big drinker, but I enjoy a drink now and then. If I am going to be at home, does anyone know of any adverse effects or anything I should worry about if I have a couple of beers? I didn't have any around the time of the start of my cycle, so I don't think it is a "trigger" for me.

Title: Re: Verapamil and alcohol
Post by t_h_b on Dec 30^th, 2003, 8:02pm

Good news! The info that my insurance company's pharmacy sends says:

"Verapamil prolongs and intensifies the effects of alcohol in your system. DO NOT DRINK ALCOHOL (or very carefully limit) while you are using this medicine."

On the other hand, grapefruit juice may intensify the effectiveness of the verapamil.

I guess if you take your verapamil with grapefruit juice and vodka, you get a boost in the verapamil from the grapefruit juice and a boost in the alcohol from the verapamil.

I don't know what effect the vodka and verapamil might have on the grapefruit juice. Can't find anything about it.

So unless you have a severe reaction to grapefruit juice, this may be the perfect combination.

I have noticed that since I get drunk a lot quicker now when I do drink. I had been attributing it to being out of practice. Maybe it's the verapamil, or both?

Title: Re: Verapamil and alcohol
Post by jonny on Dec 30^th, 2003, 8:30pm

29 yrs chronic and have been taking 480 mgs everyday for over a decade......I drink lots of beer, I dont drive when I drink so there has been no problem for over ten years and no side effects.....(Yet.....LMAO ;;D)

.........................................jonny

Title: Re: Verapamil and alcohol
Post by Prense on Dec 30^th, 2003, 10:17pm

on 12/30/03 at 19:21:10, HoosierFan wrote:

so I don't think it is a "trigger" for me.

Only one way to find out for sure... ;;D

Alcohol + verapamil doesn't seem to cause me any problems.

Title: Re: Verapamil and alcohol
Post by violet on Dec 30^th, 2003, 10:23pm

I guess it depends on the person. I stay away from alcohol completely as it is a trigger for my headaches. But when I was still trying to drink, it seemed that the Verapamil and the alcohol did not get along well..
Vi

Title: Re: Verapamil and alcohol
Post by ave on Dec 31^st, 2003, 10:41am

Alcohol was never a trigger for me and when I was on vera, I took my usual drinks. No problem.