VERPAMIL SR Verapamil SR Tablets 120Mg and 240Mg
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NEW ZEALAND CONSUMER MEDICINE INFORMATION VERPAMIL SR Verapamil SR tablets 120mg and 240mg channel blockers. These medicines Do not take VERPAMIL SR if you What is in this leaflet work by opening up blood vessels, are taking ivabradine, a medicine causing blood pressure to fall and used to treat chest pain. This leaflet answers some common allowing more blood and oxygen to questions about VERPAMIL SR. reach the heart. Do not take this medicine after the expiry date printed on the It does not contain all the available Ask your doctor if you have any pack or if the packaging is torn or information. It does not take the questions about why this shows signs of tampering. place of talking to your doctor or medicine has been prescribed for If it has expired or is damaged, pharmacist. you. return it to your pharmacist for Your doctor may have prescribed it disposal. All medicines have risks and for another reason. benefits. Your doctor has weighed If you are not sure whether you the risks of you taking VERPAMIL This medicine is available only with should start taking this medicine, SR against the benefits they expect a doctor’s prescription. talk to your doctor. it will have for you. Before you start to take If you have any concerns about Before you take it taking this medicine, ask your VERPAMIL SR Tell your doctor if you have doctor or pharmacist. allergies to any other medicines, Keep this leaflet with the When you must not take foods, preservatives or dyes. medicine. You may need to read it it again. Tell your doctor if you have or Do not take VERPAMIL SR if you have had any of the following have an allergy to: medical conditions: What VERPAMIL SR any medicine containing is used for verapamil. any other heart problems any of the ingredients listed at liver problems the end of this leaflet. kidney problems VERPAMIL SR is available in two muscle conditions such as strengths: VERPAMIL SR 120mg Some of the symptoms of an myasthenia gravis, Lambert- and VERPAMIL SR 240mg. allergic reaction may include: Eaton syndrome or advanced shortness of breath; wheezing or Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy The letters SR in the name difficulty breathing; swelling of the VERPAMIL SR stand for “sustained face, lips, tongue or other parts of Tell your doctor if you are release”. This means the medicine the body; rash, itching or hives on pregnant or plan to become is released into the blood over an the skin pregnant. extended period of time, usually VERPAMIL SR may affect your allowing the medicine to be taken Do not give this medicine to a developing baby if you take it during once a day. child. Safety and effectiveness in pregnancy. Your doctor can discuss children have not been established. with you the risks and benefits VERPAMIL SR is used to treat involved. Do not take VERPAMIL SR if you High blood pressure have certain other heart Tell your doctor if you are breast- (hypertension) conditions such as heart failure, feeding or plan to breast-feed. Heart and chest pain a very slow heart rate, some The active ingredient in VERPAMIL brought on, for example, by types of arrhythmias or a disease SR passes into breast milk. Your exercise or stress (known of the heart muscle. doctor can discuss with you the as angina pectoris) risks and benefits involved. Long-term prevention of Do not take VERPAMIL SR if you future heart attacks have low blood pressure, known If you have not told your doctor as hypotension. about any of the above, tell Your VERPAMIL SR tablets contain him/her before you start taking verapamil. It belongs to a group of VERPAMIL SR. medicines known as calcium Page 1 of 4 Taking other medicines Antiviral medicines such as (angina), doses will generally be ritonavir, used to treat HIV 120mg to 480mg VERPAMIL SR Tell your doctor or pharmacist if infections daily in 1 or 2 divided doses. The average daily dose is 360mg. you are taking any other Colchicine and sulfinpyrazone, medicines, including any that you medicines used to treat and For all conditions, it is advised any get without a prescription from prevent gout your pharmacy, supermarket or single dose should not exceed Doxorubicin, a medicine used to 240mg. health food shop. treat certain cancers Some medicines and VERPAMIL Almotriptan, a medicine used to SR may interfere with each other. VERPAMIL SR is not intended for treat migraine use in children. These include: St. John’s Wort, a product used to elevate mood Do not halve VERPAMIL SR Other medicines for high blood tablets. pressure, such as beta blockers, These medicines may be affected ACE inhibitors and vasodilators by VERPAMIL SR or may affect When switching from immediate Alpha-blockers such as prazosin how well it works. You may need release verapamil to VERPAMIL and terazosin, used to treat high different amounts of your SR, the total daily dose in blood pressure and enlarged medicines, or you may need to take milligrams may remain the same. prostates (BPH) different medicines. Fluid tablets, also called diuretics Your doctor and pharmacist have How to take it Digoxin or Digitoxin, medicines more information on medicines to Swallow the tablets whole with a used to treat heart failure be careful with or avoid while taking full glass of water. Glibenclamide, a medicine used this medicine. to treat diabetes When to take it Medicines used to treat irregular heart beat (eg. disopyramide, How to take Take your medicine at about the flecainide, mexiletine, same time each day. amiodarone and quinidine) VERPAMIL SR Taking it at the same time each day Cimetidine, a medicine will have the best effect. It will also commonly used to treat reflux Follow all directions given to you help you remember when to take it. and ulcers by your doctor or pharmacist Imipramine, a medicine used to carefully. VERPAMIL SR should be taken treat depression They may differ from the information regularly, preferably with or shortly Lithium, a medicine used to treat contained in this leaflet. after meals with some liquid. mood swings and some types of depression If you do not understand the How long to take it Cyclosporin, everolimus, instructions on the bottle, ask sirolimus and tacrolimus, your doctor or pharmacist for VERPAMIL SR is usually taken as medicines used to prevent organ help. long-term treatment. Keep taking transplant rejection or to treat VERPAMIL SR for as long as your certain problems with the How much to take doctor recommends. immune system Erythromycin, clarithromycin and Adults: If you forget to take it telithromycin, antibiotic For high blood pressure If it is almost time for your next medicines (hypertension), the usual dose in dose, skip the dose you missed Carbamazepine, phenobarbitone adults is one VERPAMIL SR 240mg and take your next dose when and phenytoin, medicines tablet daily. you are meant to. commonly used to treat epilepsy Rifampicin, an antibiotic used in For elderly patients and patients Otherwise, take it as soon as you conditions such as tuberculosis new to verapamil therapy, an initial remember, and then go back to (TB) daily dose of VERPAMIL SR 120mg taking your medicine as you Theophylline, a medicine used to daily may be appropriate. would normally. treat asthma Midazolam, a medicine used to The maximum dose is one Do not take a double dose to treat sleeping problems VERPAMIL SR 240mg tablet twice make up for the dose that you (insomnia) daily. missed. Buspirone, a medicine used to This may increase the chance of treat anxiety For prevention of future heart you getting an unwanted side effect. Cholesterol lowering medicines attacks, the usual dose in adults is such as simvastatin, lovastatin between 240mg to 480mg If you are not sure what to do, and atorvastatin VERPAMIL SR daily in 1 or 2 ask your doctor or pharmacist. Aspirin, dabigatran or other divided doses. The average daily medicines which affect the dose is 360mg. If you have trouble remembering to clotting of your blood take your medicine, ask your For prevention of chest pains pharmacist for some hints. Page 2 of 4 If you take too much Do not give your medicine to You may not experience any of anyone else, even if they have them. (overdose) the same condition as you. Immediately telephone your Ask your doctor or pharmacist to doctor or the National Poisons Do not stop taking your medicine answer any questions you may Information Centre (0800 POISON or lower the dosage without have. or 0800 764 766) for advice, or go checking with your doctor. to Accident and Emergency at Tell your doctor or pharmacist if the nearest hospital, if you think Things to be careful of you notice any of the following that you or anyone else may have and they worry you: taken too much VERPAMIL SR. Grapefruit juice should be Dizziness, light-headedness, Do this even if there are no signs avoided while taking VERPAMIL tiredness of discomfort or poisoning. You SR. Headache may need urgent medical attention. Grapefruit juice contains one or more components that alter the Flushing Symptoms of an overdose may metabolism of some medicines, Feeling sick, upset stomach, include feeling faint, light- including VERPAMIL SR. vomiting headedness, dizziness or chest Constipation pain. Be careful driving or operating Ringing ears machinery until you know how Hair loss VERPAMIL SR affects you. An increase in the amount you While you are taking This medicine may cause tiredness, sweat dizziness or light-headedness in Joint or muscle pain VERPAMIL SR some people. If you have any of these symptoms, do not drive, Tell your doctor as soon as Things you must do operate machinery or do anything possible if you notice any of the else that could be dangerous.