Description

Product Overview

What is Verapamil Hydrochlorideand what is it used for?

Verapamil Hydrochloride belongs to a group of medicines called calcium channel blockers; its active ingredient is verapamil hydrochloride. Verapamil Hydrochlorideis used to treat abnormal heart rhythms such as an irregular or rapid heart rate.

What should you know before receiving Verapamil Hydrochloride?

If the answer to any of the following questions is ‘YES’ please tell your doctor or pharmacist BEFORE receiving Verapamil Hydrochloride:

• Are you are sensitive (allergic) to the active ingredient verapamil hydrochloride or any of the other ingredients in the medicine? (See section 6)
• Are you pregnant, planning to become pregnant or breast-feeding?
• Do you have kidney problems?
• Do you have very low blood pressure?
• Do you have an abnormally slow, fast or irregular heartbeat?
• Do you have or have you ever suffered from heart problems such as heart failure, or the heart condition called Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome?
• Are you currently receiving intravenous beta-blockers, e.g. atenolol, propranolol?
• Do you have a condition where the nerve to muscle transmission is affected e.g. myasthenia gravis, Lambert-Eaton syndrome, advanced Duchenne muscular dystrophy?

Your doctor will monitor you closely if:
• You have any other heart problems in addition to the one you are being treated for
• You need any other medication to treat your abnormal heart rhythm
• You need to be given an anaesthetic

You MUST tell your doctor if you are taking any medicines with or without a prescription or have recently taken any of the following medicines:
• Beta-blockers used to treat high blood pressure and heart conditions (these include atenolol, propranolol and metoprolol)
• Alpha blockers used to treat high blood pressure and heart conditions (these include prazosin and terazosin)
• Medicines know as ‘statins’ such as atorvastatin, lovastatin, simvastatin used to lower cholesterol levels
• Any other medicine for high blood pressure or an abnormal heart beat (arrhythmia) such as quinidine, flecainide, disopyramide, digoxin and digitoxin
• Medicines used to treat depression (including the herbal product St John’s Wort), anxiety or psychosis. These may include imipramine, buspirone and lithium
• Medicines known as immunosuppressants such as ciclosporin, sirolimus, everolimus and tacrolimus. These are used to prevent organ transplant rejection
• Glibenclamide, used to treat certain types of diabetes
• Aspirin, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory painkiller (NSAID) used to relieve pain and reduce fever
• Almotriptan, used to treat migraine
• Midazolam, used as a sedative or anaesthetic
• Theophylline, used to treat asthma
• Cimetidine, used to treat indigestion or stomach ulcers
• Rifampicin, used to treat tuberculosis and other types of infection
• Carbamazepine, phenytoin or phenobarbital (phenobarbitone). These medicines are used as anti-convulsants
• Ritonavir, used to treat HIV
• Erythromycin, clarithromycin and telithromycin, used to treat types of infection
• Colchicines or sulfinpyrazone, used to treat gout

Driving and using machinery
Verapamil may affect your ability to drive or operate machinery, you MUST check with your doctor before you do so.
This is particularly important if you have had prolonged intravenous therapy or if you have switched to oral (tablet) treatment.

Pregnancy and breast feeding
Please discuss with your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or are breast feeding.

Other important information
Do NOT drink grapefruit juice whilst taking Verapamil Hydrochlorideas it can effect the absorption of this medicine. This does not occur with other fruit juices such as orange, apple or tomato juice.

How will you receive Verapamil Hydrochloride?

Verapamil Hydrochlorideis given to you by injection into a vein (Intravenously). This will be carried out by a doctor.
The dose will vary according to your condition this will be decided by the doctor. The medical team in the hospital may monitor your blood pressure and ECG (The electrical activity of the heart) throughout your treatment. The usual doses are as follows

Adults:
5-10 mg by slow intravenous injection over a period of 2 minutes.
In elderly patients, the injection may be given at a slower rate.
If necessary, an extra 5 mg may be injected after 5 to 10 minutes.

Children:
0-1 Year: 0.1 to 0.2 mg per kg bodyweight
1-15 years: 0.1 to 0.3 mg per kg bodyweight
The injection may be repeated after 30 minutes, if necessary.

Possible side effects

As with all medicines, Verapamil Hydrochloridecan cause side effects. Verapamil Hydrochlorideaffects the rhythm of the heart, but may also slow down the heart rate and cause a drop in blood pressure in some patients.
The medical team will therefore monitor you closely during your treatment.

If you experience any of the following rare side effects tell your doctor IMMEDIATELY:
• Changes in heart rhythm, chest pains for the first time or chest pains becoming frequent
• Swollen ankles
• Unexpected wheezing, difficulty breathing, swelling of the mouth, lips or tongue, itching or a severe skin rash
• Yellowing of the skin or eyes, a fever or tenderness around the middle. These are signs that your liver may not be functioning as well as usual

Other side effects with verapamil include flushing of the face or neck, sweating, headaches, tiredness, seizures, dizziness, vertigo, nervousness, movement disorders, abnormal discomfort, nausea, abdominal pain or vomiting.

Other side effects may sometimes occur with long-term verapamil treatment. Tell your doctor if you develop swollen gums which spread over your teeth, or (in males) if your breasts swell. These effects are very rare and resolve on stopping treatment.

If you experience any other unusual symptoms after you have received Verapamil Hydrochloride, tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Reporting of side effects
Also you can help to make sure that medicines remain as safe as possible by reporting any unwanted side effects via the internet at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard. Alternatively you can call Freephone 0808 100 3352 (available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays to Fridays) or fill in a paper form available from your local pharmacy.

How should Verapamil Hydrochloridebe stored?

Do not store above 30°C and protect from light.
The doctor or nurse will check that the expiry date on the label has not passed before you are given the injection.
It should NOT be used after the expiry date printed on the label.

Further Information

What Verapamil Hydrochloridecontains:
Each ampoule of injection solution contains 2.5 mg per ml verapamil hydrochloride ph Eur in water for injections and sodium chloride, with hydrochloric acid as pH adjuster.Verapamil Hydrochloride – Taj Dearob Pharma | Verapamil Hydrochloride belongs to a group of medicines called calcium channel blockers; its active ingredient is verapamil hydrochloride. Verapamil Hydrochlorideis used to treat abnormal heart rhythms such as an irregular or rapid heart rate.