Drug Name

Calan (Verapamil)

Drug Uses

This drug is a calcium channel blocker. Calcium is involved in blood vessel contraction as well as in controlling the electrical impulses within the heart. By blocking calcium, calan relaxes as well as widens blood vessels as well as can normalize heartbeats. Calan is used to treat chest pain (angina), high blood pressure or irregular heartbeats. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about likely problems related to take of short-acting calcium channel blockers.

How Taken

This medication should be swallowed whole with a filled glass of water unless your doctor directs you otherwise. This medication must be used as directed to halt chest pain. It is not effective incase used only when chest pain occurs. Do not halt using this medication suddenly without your doctor's permission. Chest pain can occur incase the medication is stopped too quick. Your dose may need to be gradually decreased.

Drug Class as well as Mechanism

Calan belongs to a class of medications, called calcium channel blockers. These medications block the movement of calcium into the muscle cells of the coronary arteries (the arteries supplying the heart) as well as the other arteries of the body. Since calcium is what triggers contraction of muscles, blocking entry of calcium relaxes the arterial muscles. This relaxation allows the arteries to become larger so that more blood can flow through them. Thus, calan is useful in treating as well as preventing chest pain (angina) resulting from spasm (contraction) of the coronary arteries that reduces the flow of blood to the heart. Relaxing the muscles lining the arteries in the rest of the body lowers blood pressure as well as thereby reduces the pressure against which the heart must pump blood. As a result, the heart works less as well as requires less oxygen-carrying blood. This allows the heart to work with the reduced flow of blood caused by coronary artery disease as well as prevents angina (which occurs whenever the flow of blood to the heart is inadequate). Calan as well as decreases the conduction of electrical impulses through the heart that control the coordination of contraction. As a result, the rate of contraction slows.

Missed Dose

Incase you miss a dose, take as soon as remembered; do not take incase it is almost time for the next dose, instead, skip the missed dose as well as resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not "double-up" the dose to catch up.

Storage

Store at room temperature away from sunlight as well as moisture.

Warnings/Precautions

Before using this drug, tell your doctor your health examination history, including: allergies (especially drug allergies), heart problems (e.g., heart rhythm disturbances, heart failure), liver or kidney disease, very abridged blood pressure, muscular dystrophy, brain tumors (cancer). Before heart surgery, tell your doctor you take this medicine. Calan prolongs as well as intensifies the effects of alcohol in your system. Avoid (or very carefully limit) alcoholic beverages while using this medication. Caution is advised when this drug is used in the elderly. This medication should be used only when clearly needed during pregnancy. Discuss the risks as well as benefits with your doctor. This drug is excreted into breast milk as well as a decision should be made whether to halt the drug or avoid breast-feeding. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Likely Side Effects

This drug may cause dizziness as well as lightheadedness especially during the earliest few days. Avoid activities requiring alertness. When you sit or lie down for a while, get up slowly to allow your body to adjust as well as minimize dizziness. You may as well as experience weakness, fatigue, nausea, muscle cramps, headache, flushing or constipation. These effects should disappear as your body adjusts to the medication. Inform your doctor incase they become bothersome. Notify your doctor immediately incase you develop: breathing difficulties, swelling of the hands or feet, irregular heartbeat, fever, stomach/abdominal pain, yellowing eyes as well as skin, not light urine. Incase you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

More Information

Laboratory tests (e.g., liver function tests) should be performed periodically to monitor for side effects. Do not share this medication with others.