Verapamil

What is verapamil?

Verapamil is a medicine used for the heart. It helps to relax blood vessels and increase the supply of blood and oxygen to the heart. It also reduces the workload of the heart, which relieves and prevents chest pain.

It may also be used to control high blood pressure and to keep the heartbeat regular and at the right speed.

How should you give your child verapamil?

Follow these instructions when giving your child verapamil:

• Give your child verapamil exactly as your doctor tells you to, even if your child seems better. Talk to your child's doctor before you stop giving verapamil for any reason. Your child may become ill if they stop taking this medicine suddenly.
• Give verapamil at the same times every day. Pick times that are easy for you so that you do not miss doses.
• Give verapamil with or without food or milk.
• Measure the dose of verapamil with the special spoon or syringe that the pharmacist gave you, if your child is taking liquid verapamil. Shake the bottle well before you give your child each dose.
• Your child should not chew or crush the sustained-release (SR) tablets. Have your child swallow SR tablets whole or cut in half.
• Your child may NOT have grapefruits, grapefruit juice, or tangelos. These may make the verapamil level in your child's blood go up and increase the chance of having side effects. It is important to read the contents of mixed fruit juices to ensure that they do not contain grapefruit juice.

What should you do if your child misses a dose of verapamil?

If your child misses a dose of verapamil:

• Give your child the missed dose as soon as you remember, if it is within four hours of the usual time.
• If it is more than four hours since the dose time, skip the missed dose. Give your child the next dose at the regular time. Give your child only one dose at a time.

What are the possible side effects of verapamil?

Your child may have some side effects while they take verapamil. Usually your child will not need to see a doctor about them.

These side effects may go away as your child's body gets used to verapamil. Check with your child's doctor or nurse if your child has any of these signs or symptoms and they do not go away or they bother your child:

• dizziness or lightheadedness
• flushing (red face) and feeling of warmth
• headache
• constipation
• diarrhea (watery stool)
• upset stomach
• unusual tiredness or weakness
• bleeding gums, tender, or swollen gums (see your doctor or dentist for this)

Call your child's doctor or nurse as soon as possible, during office hours, if your child has any of these signs:

• skin rash

Most of the following side effects are not common, but they may be a sign of a serious problem. Call your child's doctor right away or take your child to the Emergency Department if your child has any of these side effects:

• breathing difficulty, coughing, or wheezing
• irregular heartbeat or unusually slow heartbeat
• chest pains

What other important information should you know about verapamil?

• Keep all appointments at the clinic or doctor's office so that the doctor can check your child's reaction to verapamil.
• Verapamil may not work well with some other medicines. Check with your child's doctor or pharmacist before you give your child any other medicine, even medicine you can buy without a prescription.
• Make sure you always have enough verapamil to last through weekends, holidays, and vacations. Call your pharmacy at least 2 days before your child runs out of medicine to order refills.
• Do not share your child's medicine with others. Do not give anyone else's medicine to your child.
• Keep liquid verapamil at room temperature, not in the refrigerator.
  

Keep verapamil out of your child’s sight and reach and locked up in a safe place. If your child takes too much verapamil, call your local Poison Information Centre at one of these numbers. These calls are free. 

• Call 1-844 POISON-X, or 1-844-764-7669, from anywhere in Canada except Quebec.
• Call 1-800-463-5060 if you live in Quebec.