Verapamil

[Pam Alexson]

My question is for my brother's issue.. Has anyone on Verapamil ER gotten a real bad stomach ache and nausea with it? He says it does not bother him.. the earlier dose of(120mgs AM) that he has been on for quite a few years.

I seem to recall each time I ever increased my Diltiazem I felt real crappy for a couple weeks until I adjusted and then it settled down. He has been feeling these stomach issues for 3 days since his increase.
I will have to look at all his meds and see how/ when he is taking them and what he is mixing . I want him to do well and tolerate the adjustment / increase.. He is just not as adaptable or tolerant as me.

Thanks... Pam

[LindaSo]

No Upper GI issues, but the terminal constipation it evokes is the pits!

[Chris_in_shed]

Hi,

I've been on Verapamil ER at doses up to 960mg per day.

A bit of stomach ache, a lot of constipation!

Chris

[Laoshur]

Does a bad bout of diverticulitis count? I was willing to give it another try with lots of extra fluid and fiber, but the cardiologist I was seeing at the time said that trading one major condition for another even more deadly one, was a bad idea. I suggest your brother greatly increase his fluid and fiber intake if he is going to adjust to this.

Rhoda

[LindaSo]

Pam,
I would be interested in what your "investigation" into timing, mixing, etc has shown. I tolerate 480mg/day fine from a CV standpoint, but I don't tolerate more than 120mg BID from a GI standpoint. I have been on 480mg/day for a year and a half with no plans to decrease the dose. I have been on large fluid volumes and have met with a dietitian, injesting well above the daily recommended fiber recommendations daily, etc. The result has necessitated additional meds, consults and treatment, and now a referral for a surgical evalutation has been scheduled to take care of a Verapamil induced complication. Ah, the joys of HCM and it's therapy............but as I always say, onward and upward!! My heart has been feeling pretty good lately, so I can't complain.
L

[Pam Alexson]

Well it seems moving up his prescribed Zantac has helped as in several hours before his second dose and I am telling him he needs to take the metamucil or substitute regularly as opposed to as a PRN.. He does not get the concept but, may if his diverticulosis flares up.

I on the other hand.. same diverticulosis history but, on Diltiazem ;less constipation, have always taken one OTC Colace daily with good effect... and metamucil if I had a flare of the divertic.. After recent thyroidectomy they increased me to 2x's per day of colace and it works well without any adversities... The trick seems to be getting the fiber and regularity in good measure before adding any elemnents that compound the issue.

He is now feeling well with his switching the zantac time. So onto conquering the potential for intestinal blockage and getting him to follow my plan. As opposed to increasing the Verapamil to 240 in AM and 120 in PM in 2 weeks .. I have advised him to delay the increase by a week or little more and am sure Dr Maron would agree. It was funny, his visit with Dr Maron was like a consultation with Dr Maron and with me at the same time. LOL. Dr Maron told him he would be in good hands having an expert in his family and could certainly call him if issues were a problem. It was good in that you know how sibling things can be.. my brother agreed to Dr Maron that he would follow my advise as guided by Dr Maron's plan for him.

[LindaSo]

I have been told specifically not to take Metamucil with Verapamil, as it is a bulking agent which compounds the problem. Same thing with Benefiber. The issue with Verapamil (which is poorly reported in the literature) is that it tightens the musculature in the rectum and anal sphinchter, and that bulking things up only compound this issue. I have also been told the amount of constipation reported in the literature is far under reported. Colace never worked for me, neither did blasting caps. Miralax, Milralax, Miralax !!!!!!! I have used this daily, has been OK'd by a MD specializing in this issue (oh brother, why me?) to use daily on a long term basis.

[Pam Alexson]

One thing that I am aware of is if you do not drink VERY LARGE amounts of water with metamucil then it will not be effective at what it is supposed to do. I wondered about miralax as I really have always hated metamucil even though they all wanted me to use it... even my HCM doctor. I guess we all react differently... or our insides do that is... and I do not take verapamil.. will pass this on to my brother ..Thanks

[LindaSo]

Miralax is colorless, tasteless and completely dissolves in anything.......juice, coffee, even a diet coke, and has no "texture". It is my MIRACLE drug !!