Verapamil Hydrochloride ER Tablets 240mg

PATIENT INFORMATION LEAFLET

Verapamil Hydrochloride ER Tablets 120mg
Verapamil Hydrochloride ER Tablets 180mg
Verapamil Hydrochloride ER Tablets 240mg
Verapamil Hydrochloride ER Tablets 360mg

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine

  • Keep this leaflet as you may need to read it again
  • This leaflet provides a summary of the information currently available about Verapamil Hydrochloride ER and Half Verapamil Hydrochloride ER
  • For further information or advice ask your doctor or pharmacist
  • This medicine is for you only and should never be given to anyone else, even if they appear to have the same symptoms as you
  • Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you experience any side effects

What is in this leaflet

  1. What Verapamil Hydrochloride ER / Half Verapamil Hydrochloride ER is and what is it used for
    1. What you need to know before you take Verapamil Hydrochloride ER/ Half Verapamil Hydrochloride ER
    1. How to take Verapamil Hydrochloride ER/ Half Verapamil Hydrochloride ER
    1. Possible side effects
    1. How to store Verapamil Hydrochloride ER / Half Verapamil Hydrochloride ER
    1. Contents of the pack and other information
  2. What Verapamil Hydrochloride ER / Half Verapamil Hydrochloride ER is and what is it used for

Verapamil Hydrochloride ER and Half Verapamil Hydrochloride ER Tablets belong to a group of medicines called calcium channel blockers. Calcium channel blockers change the amount of calcium getting into the muscle cells in your heart and blood vessels. This can change the strength and speed with which your heartbeats. It also opens up the blood vessels so blood can be pumped around the body more easily. This helps more oxygen to get to your heart muscle and can lower your blood pressure.

Verapamil Hydrochloride ER and Half Verapamil Hydrochloride ER Tablets are used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure) and to prevent angina (chest pain) attacks. The Tablets may also be prescribed following a heart attack, to prevent another attack occurring.

The active ingredient in Verapamil Hydrochloride ER and Half Verapamil Hydrochloride ER Tablets is verapamil hydrochloride.

  • What you need to know before you take Verapamil Hydrochloride ER / Half Verapamil Hydrochloride ER

If the answer to any of the following questions is ‘YES’ please tell your doctor or pharmacist BEFORE taking any Tablets:

  • Are you are sensitive (allergic) to verapamil or any of the other ingredients in the Tablets? (See section 6)
  • Are you pregnant or planning to become pregnant, or are you breastfeeding?
  • Do you have very low blood pressure?
  • Do you have or have you ever suffered from heart problems such as heart failure?
  • Do you have an abnormally slow or irregular heartbeat?
  • Have you recently had a heart attack?
  • Do you have liver or kidney problems?
  • Do you have or have you ever suffered from heart problems such as heart failure or the heart condition called Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome?
  • Do you have a condition where the nerve to muscle transmission is affected e.g. myasthenia gravis, Lambert-Eaton syndrome, advanced Duchenne muscular dystrophy?
  • Are you being treated with ivabradine (for heart conditions)?

Taking other medicines.

Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any medicines with or without a prescription or have recently taken any of the following medicines:

  • beta-blockers used to treat high blood pressure and heart conditions (these include atenolol, propranolol and metoprolol)
  • alpha-blockers used to treat high blood pressure and heart conditions (these include prazosin and terazosin)
  • diuretics (also called ‘water pills’)
  • medicines known as “statins” such as atorvastatin, lovastatin, simvastatin used to lower cholesterol levels
  • any other medicine for high blood pressure or an abnormal heartbeat (arrhythmia) such as quinidine, flecainide, disopyramide, digoxin and digitoxin
  • dabigatran (medicine to prevent the formation of blood clots)
  • medicines containing ivabradine for the treatment of certain heart diseases
  • medicines used to treat depression (including the herbal product St John’s Wort), anxiety or psychosis. These may include imipramine, buspirone and lithium
  • medicines are known as immunosuppressants such as ciclosporin, sirolimus, everolimus and tacrolimus. These are used to prevent organ transplant rejection
  • glibenclamide used to treat certain types of diabetes
  • aspirin, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory painkiller (NSAID) used to relieve pain and reduce fever
  • almotriptan used to treat migraine
  • midazolam, used as a sedative or anaesthetic
  • theophylline used to treat asthma
  • doxorubicin, an anti-cancer medicine
  • cimetidine used to treat indigestion or stomach ulcers
  • rifampicin used to treat tuberculosis and other types of infection
  • carbamazepine, phenytoin or phenobarbital (phenobarbitone). These medicines are used as anticonvulsants.
  • ritonavir used to treat HIV
  • erythromycin, clarithromycin and telithromycin, used to treat types of infection
  • colchicine or sulfinpyrazone used to treat gout.

Tell your surgeon or dentist that you are taking Verapamil Hydrochloride ER or Half Verapamil Hydrochloride ER if surgery is planned as it may affect the anaesthetic used.

Driving and operating machines

Do NOT drive, operate machinery or do anything that requires you to be alert, until you know how the tablets affect you.

Verapamil Hydrochloride ER and Half Verapamil Hydrochloride ER can make some people feel dizzy, especially when they first start to take the Tablets.

Other important information

Do NOT drink grapefruit juice whilst taking your Tablets as it can affect the absorption of this medicine. This does not occur with other fruit juices such as orange, apple or tomato juice.

Drinking alcohol

Verapamil Hydrochloride ER and Half Verapamil Hydrochloride ER will increase the time your body takes to get rid of alcohol. This means that you may not have to drink as much for your blood alcohol levels to be above the legal limit to drive. It will also take you longer to sober up.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Please discuss with your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or are breastfeeding.

  • How to take Verapamil Hydrochloride ER/ Half Verapamil Hydrochloride ER

ALWAYS take this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor if you are not sure.

TAKE YOUR TABLETS with a glass of water. You should swallow the tablets without chewing or crushing them. It does not matter if you have not eaten.

The number of Tablets that you will need to take will depend on what you are being treated for:

ADULTS:

Hypertension (high blood pressure)

The recommended dose is one Verapamil Hydrochloride ER 240mg Tablets a day. If you have not taken Verapamil Hydrochloride ER 240mg before, your doctor may prescribe a lower dose such as a Half Verapamil Hydrochloride ER 120mg Tablets each day. The maximum dose to treat high blood pressure is 480mg each day. This is usually taken as one Securon 240mg Tablets in the morning and one in the evening, leaving a gap of about 12 hours between each dose.

Angina (chest pain)

The usual starting dose for angina is one Verapamil Hydrochloride ER 240mg Tablets taken twice a day. You should take one tablet in the morning and one in the evening, with a gap of about 12 hours in between them. Your doctor may prescribe a lower dose according to your symptoms.

Following a heart attack

The usual dose following a heart attack is 360mg each day. This may be taken as one Verapamil Hydrochloride ER 240mg Tablets in the morning and a Half Verapamil Hydrochloride ER 120mg Tablets in the evening or as one Half Verapamil Hydrochloride ER 120mg Tablets taken three times a day. The doctor will usually wait at least a week after your heart attack before prescribing these Tablets.

CHILDREN:

Verapamil Hydrochloride ER and Half Verapamil Hydrochloride ER are NOT recommended for children under 12 years of age.

Elderly

The dose will be the same as that for adults. If you have kidney or liver problem, your doctor may lower your dose.

If you take more Verapamil Hydrochloride ER and Half Verapamil Hydrochloride ER than you should

If you take more tablets than prescribed (an overdose) you should contact a doctor or go to the nearest hospital casualty department IMMEDIATELY taking your tablets with you.

If you forget to take Verapamil Hydrochloride ER and Half Verapamil Hydrochloride ER

If you forget to take your Tablets take them as soon as you remember, unless it is almost time for your next dose. If it is, do not take the missed dose at all. Do not take a double dose to make up for forgotten tablets.

If you stop taking Verapamil Hydrochloride ER and Half Verapamil Hydrochloride ER

If you stop taking your Tablets your condition may get worse. It is important that you keep taking these tablets until your doctor tells you to stop. Do NOT stop just because you feel better.

Other things to remember about Verapamil Hydrochloride ER and Half Verapamil Hydrochloride ER

  • Verapamil Hydrochloride ER 240mg Tablets may be broken in half if your doctor advises you to do so (e.g. if a lower dose has been prescribed).
  • The Tablets should NOT be crushed, chewed or sucked, as this will affect the modified-release formulation of the product.

If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

  • Possible side effects

As with all medicines, Verapamil Hydrochloride ER and Half Verapamil Hydrochloride ER can cause side effects, although not everyone will suffer from them. If you experience any other unusual symptoms whilst taking your tablets, tell your doctor or pharmacist.

Tell your doctor IMMEDIATELY if you experience any of the following side effects:

  • Yellowing of the skin or eyes, a fever or tenderness around the middle. These are signs that your liver may not be functioning as well as usual
  • Palpitations, chest pains for the first time or chest pains becoming more frequent, swollen ankles, hot and painful hands or feet
  • Swelling of the limbs
  • Unexpected wheezing, difficulty breathing, swelling of the mouth, lips or tongue or severe skin rash

The most common side effect is constipation. Other side effects include abnormal heartbeat, flushing of the face or neck, headaches, feeling or being sick, abdominal pain or discomfort, dizziness, vertigo, tinnitus (ringing or buzzing in the ears), tiredness, tremor, movement disorders, muscle weakness, aches and pains in the joints and/or muscles, skin rash or itching, a tingling or prickling feeling on the skin, numbness and hair loss. Impotence may occur rarely.

Other side effects might occur if Verapamil Hydrochloride ER or Half Verapamil Hydrochloride ER gums which start to spread over your teeth, or if your breasts swell (males) or start to produce milk (males and females). These effects are rare and are resolved upon stopping taking the Tablets.

  • How to store Verapamil Hydrochloride ER/ Half Verapamil Hydrochloride ER

Do NOT take your Tablets after the ‘use by’ date shown on the carton. Keep them in the original pack, at normal room temperature (do not store them above 25 ?C).

Your Tablets should be stored in a safe place out of the reach and sight of children, your medicine could harm them.

If your doctor decides to stop treatment, return any leftover tablets to your pharmacist. Only keep the tablets if your doctor tells you to. Do NOT dispose of leftover Tablets carelessly (e.g. down the toilet or in with your general rubbish).

  • Contents of the pack and other information

What Verapamil Hydrochloride ER and Half Verapamil Hydrochloride ER contains

  • The active substance is verapamil hydrochloride, in an Extended-release (slow release) formulation.
  • Each Verapamil Hydrochloride ER Tablets contains 120mg, 180mg, 240mg and 360mg of verapamil hydrochloride.
  • Each Half Verapamil Hydrochloride ER Tablets contains 180mg of verapamil hydrochloride.
  • The other ingredients are sodium alginate, microcrystalline cellulose, povidone K30, purified water, talc, titanium dioxide, hypromellose 2910, magnesium stearate, macrogol 400, macrogol 6000, and montan glycol wax. In addition, Verapamil Hydrochloride ER (240mg) Tablets contain I-green lake (quinoline yellow and indigo carmine aluminium lacquer.

What Verapamil Hydrochloride ER and Half Verapamil Hydrochloride ER look like and contents of the pack:

Verapamil Hydrochloride ER Tablets are pale green, oblong in shape,

Calendar pack consisting of a PVC/PVDC blister in a cardboard outer container.

Pack size:

Each pack contains 10, 14, 20, 28, 30, 40, 50, 560, 60, 80, 100, 120, 240, 360 and 500 Extended Release Tablets.

Not all pack size may be marketed to another country.

Manufactured in India by:
TAJ LIFE SCIENCES PVT. LTD.
Unit No. 214, Old Bake House,
Bake House Lane, Fort,
Mumbai-400001
at: Ahmedabad- Gujarat, INDIA.
Ho.NO. +91 8448 444 095
Toll Free Phone: (1800-222-434 / 1800-222-825)