• Basic Info
• Top Questions
• Clinical Info
• Interactions

Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following drugs:

• cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral);

• cimetidine (Tagamet, Tagamet HB);

• carbamazepine (Tegretol, Carbatrol);

• lithium (Lithobid, Eskalith, others);

• theophylline (Theo-Dur, Theochron, Theolair, Theobid, Elixophyllin, Slo-Phyllin, others);

• rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane);

• phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton);

• an HMG CoA reductase inhibitor such as atorvastatin (Lipitor), lovastatin (Mevacor), simvastatin (Zocor), and others; or

• another heart medication such as propranolol (Inderal), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), atenolol (Tenormin), digoxin (Lanoxin), quinidine (Quinora, Quinidex, Quinaglute), flecainide (Tambocor), disopyramide (Norpace), captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), and others.

You may not be able to take verapamil, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring if you are taking any of the medicines listed above.

Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with verapamil or affect your condition. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products.

If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking verapamil and contact your doctor immediately or seek emergency medical treatment:

• an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives);

• an unusually fast or slow heartbeat;

• shortness of breath (heart failure);

• fainting;

• abnormal behavior or psychosis;

• jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or

• swelling of the legs or ankles.

Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take verapamil and talk to your doctor if you experience

• unusual headache, fatigue, or tiredness;

• insomnia or trouble sleeping;

• vivid dreams;

• hair loss;

• nausea or diarrhea; or

• increased urination.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.