Verapamil can be prescribed for several heart and blood pressure problems.

Verapamil is taken for angina (chest pain due to clogged cardiac arteries), as well as irregular heartbeat and high blood pressure. The longer-acting (SR) form is typically used only for high blood pressure.

Verapamil is also prescribed to prevent migraine headache and asthma and to treat manic depression and panic attacks

Verapamil contains Verapamil hydrochloride which belongs to a group of medicines called calcium channel blockers, which act on the heart and blood vessels.

Verapamil slows the movement of calcium through cells, which has two results-

• Firstly, it decreases the rate at which the heart beats. As a result, the heart uses less energy and the pain of angina is prevented or relieved.
• Secondly, it has a mild widening effect on blood vessels
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ACE inhibitor-type blood pressure drugs such as Capoten and Vasotec
Beta-blocker-type blood pressure drugs such as Lopressor, Tenormin, and Inderal
Vasodilator-type blood pressure drugs such as Loniten
Other high blood pressure drugs such as Minipress

Most Important Fact about Verapamil For Verapamil to be effective you should take it regularly if you have high blood pressure. Since blood pressure declines gradually, Verapamil may take several weeks before you get the full benefit of verapamil; and you must continue taking Verapamil even if you are feeling well. Verapamil does not cure high blood pressure; Verapamil merely keeps blood pressure under control.

Do not stop taking Verapamil without first talking to your doctor. If you stop taking Verapamil, your condition

More common Verapamil side effects may include: drowsiness

Less common Verapamil side effects may include: breathing difficulty, coughing, or wheezing, irregular or fast, pounding heartbeat, skin rash , slow heartbeat (less than 50 beats per minute), swelling of ankles, feet, or lower legs Rare side effects of Verapamil may include: bleeding, tender, or swollen gums, chest pain, fainting, painful, swollen joints, trouble in seeing, unusual secretion of milk.