Verapamil is indicated for the treatment of essential hypertension.

Hypertension (Hight Blood Pressure)

Arrhythmia

Angina

Cardiovascular Disease

• The dose of Verapamil should be individualized.
• The usual daily dose of verapamil in 240 mg taken perorally.
• Initial doses of 120 mg a day may be warranted in patients who may have an increased response to verapamil such as- the young and the olds.
• The maximum dose can be 480 mg.
• Verapamil should be taken in the morning.

Verapamil can also be taken as a sprinkle capsule. It is to be administered by carefully opening the capsule and sprinkling the pellets on a spoonful of applesauce. The applesauce should be swallowed immediately without chewing and followed with a glass of cool water to ensure complete swallowing of the pellets.

Sprinkle Capsule

Commonly reported side effects of verapamil include-

• Constipation
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Asthenia
• Ankle edema
• Dyspepsia
• Rash
• Myalgia
• Sleep disturbances

Headache	Dizziness	Asthenia
Ankle edema	Dyspepsia	Rash

• The contents of the verapamil capsule should not be crushed or chewed. Capsules are to be swallowed whole or the entire contents of the capsule sprinkled onto applesauce.
• Since verapamil is highly metabolized by the liver, it should be administered cautiously to patients with impaired hepatic function.
• Verapamil has been shown to reduce neuromuscular transmission in Duchenne's muscular dystrophy patients, as well as to prolong recovery from the neuromuscular blocking drug vecuronium and aggravate myasthenia gravis. When verapamil is given to individuals who have attenuated neuromuscular transmission, the dosage may need to be reduced.
• About 70% of an administered dose of verapamil is excreted as metabolites in the urine. Verapamil should be administered cautiously to patients with impaired renal function.