Isoptin SR

Who is Isoptin SR for ?

Verapamil is used to treat irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias) and high blood pressure. If taken regularly, verapamil controls chest pain, but it does not stop chest pain once it starts. Your doctor may give you a different medication to take when you have chest pain. this medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Verapamil also is used to treat migraine headaches and cardiomyopathy. Talk to your doctor about the possible risks of using this drug for your condition.

Verapamil is a calcium channel blocker and works to lower blood pressure by interfering with the normal role of calcium in the heart and blood vessels. By blocking calcium's entry into the heart muscle and blood vessels, verapamil causes blood vessels to relax and dilate and contraction of the heart to slow, and thus, blood pressure is lowered. It also increases the supply of blood and oxygen to the heart to control chest pain (angina).

When should I be careful taking Isoptin SR ?

Before taking verapamil,

• tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to verapamil or any other drugs.
• tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, especially carbamazepine (Tegretol); cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune); fentanyl (Duragesic); heart and blood pressure medications such as beta-blockers, digoxin (Lanoxin), disopyramide (Norpace), flecainide (Tambocor), quinidine (Quinaglute, Quinidex), diuretics ("water pills"), or any other blood pressure lowering medication; lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid); medications to treat depression; medications to treat glaucoma (increased pressure in the eye); phenobarbital; rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane); theophylline (Theo-Dur); and vitamins.
• tell your doctor if you have or have ever had heart, liver, or kidney disease, muscular dystrophy, or gastrointestinal obstruction (strictures).
• tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking verapamil, call your doctor.
• if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking verapamil.

Side Effects

Although side effects from verapamil are not common, they can occur. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• constipation
• dizziness or lightheadedness
• headache
• upset stomach
• heartburn
• excessive tiredness
• flushing (feeling of warmth)
• slow heartbeat
• vivid, unusual dreams

If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

• swelling of the face, eyes, lips, tongue, arms, or legs
• difficulty breathing or swallowing
• fainting
• rash
• yellowing of the skin or eyes
• fever
• increase in frequency or severity of chest pain (angina)