Verapamil Sustained-Release

Verapamil Sustained-Release is used for:

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Treating high blood pressure. It may be used alone or with other medicines. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Verapamil Sustained-Release is a calcium channel blocker. It works by relaxing (dilating) your blood vessels, lowering blood pressure.

Do NOT use Verapamil Sustained-Release if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Verapamil Sustained-Release
• you have certain heart conditions (eg, sinus syndrome or second- or third-degree heart block and do not have a pacemaker) or very low blood pressure
• you have atrial fibrillation or flutter and a pre-excitation syndromes (extra conduction pathway in the heart), such as Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (WPW) or Lown-Ganong-Levine syndrome (LGL)
• you are taking dofetilide or eletriptan

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Verapamil Sustained-Release:

Some medical conditions may interact with Verapamil Sustained-Release. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have heart failure or a recent heart attack with lung congestion; low blood pressure; heart problems, including a very slow heart rate or heart valve disease
• if you have kidney or liver disease, muscular dystrophy, or neurologic disease

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Verapamil Sustained-Release. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Beta-blockers (eg, propranolol), ketolides (eg, telithromycin), lincomycin, or macrolides (eg, erythromycin) because the actions and side effects of Verapamil Sustained-Release, some potentially life-threatening, may be increased
• Rifampin because it may decrease Verapamil Sustained-Release's effectiveness
• Aldosterone blockers (eg, spironolactone), beta-blockers (eg, propranolol), carbamazepine, digoxin, dofetilide, eletriptan, erythromycin, flecainide, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (eg, simvastatin), lithium, nondepolarizing muscle relaxants (eg, atracurium), quinazolines (eg, metolazone), quinidine, or theophyllines (eg, aminophylline) because the actions and side effects, some potentially life-threatening, may be increased by Verapamil Sustained-Release

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Verapamil Sustained-Release may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Verapamil Sustained-Release:

Use Verapamil Sustained-Release as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• Take Verapamil Sustained-Release by mouth with or without food.
• Swallow Verapamil Sustained-Release whole. Do not break, crush, or chew before swallowing.
• Do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while you use Verapamil Sustained-Release.
• If you cannot swallow the capsule whole, you may open it and sprinkle the contents over a spoonful of applesauce. Mix the medicine with the applesauce and swallow the mixture right away, followed by a glass of water. Do not crush or chew the medicine before swallowing. Do not store the mixture for future use.
• Taking Verapamil Sustained-Release at the same time each day will help you remember to take it.
• If you miss a dose of Verapamil Sustained-Release, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Verapamil Sustained-Release.

Important safety information:

• Verapamil Sustained-Release may cause dizziness or lightheadedness. These effects may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Verapamil Sustained-Release with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.
• Do not drink alcohol or use medicines that may cause drowsiness (eg, sleep aids, muscle relaxers) while you are using Verapamil Sustained-Release; it may add to their effects. Ask your pharmacist if you have questions about which medicines may cause drowsiness.
• Verapamil Sustained-Release may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting; alcohol, hot weather, exercise, or fever may increase these effects. To prevent them, sit up or stand slowly, especially in the morning. Sit or lie down at the first sign of any of these effects.
• Patients who take medicine for high blood pressure often feel tired or run down for a few weeks after starting treatment. Be sure to take your medicine even if you may not feel "normal." Tell your doctor if you develop any new symptoms.
• Lab tests, including liver function, kidney function, complete blood cell count, and blood pressure, may be performed while you use Verapamil Sustained-Release. These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
• Use Verapamil Sustained-Release with caution in the ELDERLY; they may be more sensitive to its effects.
• Verapamil Sustained-Release should not be used in CHILDREN; safety and effectiveness in children have not been confirmed.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Verapamil Sustained-Release while you are pregnant. Verapamil Sustained-Release is found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Verapamil Sustained-Release.

Possible side effects of Verapamil Sustained-Release:

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Constipation; dizziness; fatigue; headache; lightheadedness; nausea.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); chest pain; lightheadedness, especially upon standing; severe dizziness; shortness of breath; swelling of feet or hands; unusually fast, slow or irregular heartbeat.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. You may also report side effects at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center (http://www.aapcc.org), or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include decreased mental status; dizziness; loss of consciousness; shortness of breath; slow or irregular heartbeat.

Store Verapamil Sustained-Release at 77 degrees F (25 degrees C). Brief storage at temperatures between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C) is permitted. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Verapamil Sustained-Release out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions about Verapamil Sustained-Release, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• Verapamil Sustained-Release is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
• If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Verapamil Sustained-Release. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.

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