Verapamil

Medication 💊 Calcium Channel Blockers
1

Hey Guys

Long time!

So I took the hit and started taking Verapamil. I have felt really good this past week - not cured - but better. Today has been my only really dizzy day - so I’m confused as to whether it was coincidence! That said - I have been travelling with very irregular sleep patterns, going motorcycling, crap diet etc etc.

Only side effect is constipation - I normally go every day, but at the moment its every 2-3 days - not ideal!

How long did it take for you to see the benefit of Verapamil with your dizziness? Months/weeks?

Hope you’re all doig better!

Luke

2

Everyone is different but My doctor and that is my case you start to see benefits within a couple of weeks and as time goes on you see m ore. You then peek out and may need a doseage increase… I would say it took me 7 to 10 days to see some benefits…

3

Good news for you both. What dosage are you guys on? Howie, I know you are also on Zoloft. Luke are you on anything else? I think Verapamil is my next try…thank you both. Ben

4

I am on 240 of Verapamil and 100 of Zoloft… I may bump up to 360 but not for another 4 to 6 weeks… If that gets me totally resolved I will try and lower Zoloft and stay put on 50

5

I am on 360 mg of verapamil…as well as 2 other preventatives. My migraine doc says that “verapamil quiets the storm of migraine” As far a constipation I make sure to have shredded wheat or fiber bar daily and increase my water intake. Doing this I have not had any side effects.

Pam 3

6

Hey Luke,

Where are you? You must be getting close to Australia … be cool if you can get over to Sydney. Glad you seem to be seeing some effect from the Verapamil. Given the travel, screwed up sleep and crap food, you’re doing amazingly well. Grab a box of All-Bran and have a bowl of that in the morning. Should make you go like a race horse. :smiley: .

Later … Scott 8)

7

Pam - I went all the way up to 480 on Verapamil. SAdly, it didn’t help me, but it is a great drug for many. i was extremely constipated too, and the only thing that worked for me was Miralax.

8

Dizzyrascal -

I love Verapamil!!! It took about 2 1/2 months to get 95-100% days. I still have minor flare ups but nothing like before. For the most part, I have my life back. I was told it takes 2-3 months to get a full effect and then it can keep improving and be even better at 6-7 months. I am on 120 mg. I think your diet and sleep could be the cause of your dizzy day. A boring routine is best - 8-9 hours of sleep. I go to bed around the same time and wake up around the same time. Give it time, I wish you luck!

Nance

9

Hi Nance,

Were you having typical sort of migraines? As in aura with one-sided throbbing pain or was it neck/shoulder pain sort of stuff? I’m wondering if I should revisit this stuff but always hear how it is more suitable for particular types of migraine (which is probably not true). Did you have any stomach upset from it?

Thanks … Scott

10

Anyone that is taking verapamil, does it have any effect on sleep, eg.
sleep better, or less?
Thanks
Christine

11

Scott:

I would give Verapamil another shot…seems like most of us get some sort of benefit on this with a very low side effect profile. Most experts in the field seem to use this a first line of defense…Can hurt…

12

— Begin quote from “scott”

Hi Nance,

Were you having typical sort of migraines? As in aura with one-sided throbbing pain or was it neck/shoulder pain sort of stuff? I’m wondering if I should revisit this stuff but always hear how it is more suitable for particular types of migraine (which is probably not true). Did you have any stomach upset from it?

Thanks … Scott

— End quote

I too would be interested in hearing this answer.

Those of you taking Verapramil - when you say you are feeling/getting better, can you please tell us specificially in what ways you feel better? Are your headaches gone? What about being off balance/dizzy, light sensitivity/aura issues, fatigue, and brain fog? And what side effects did you experience?

Thanks, Bonnie

13

— Begin quote from “nance”

Dizzyrascal -

I love Verapamil!!! It took about 2 1/2 months to get 95-100% days. I still have minor flare ups but nothing like before. For the most part, I have my life back. I was told it takes 2-3 months to get a full effect and then it can keep improving and be even better at 6-7 months. I am on 120 mg. I think your diet and sleep could be the cause of your dizzy day. A boring routine is best - 8-9 hours of sleep. I go to bed around the same time and wake up around the same time. Give it time, I wish you luck!

Nance

— End quote

Hi Nance -

Can you please remind us of what your symptoms were before taking the Verapramil? I think it is important to know what Verapramil seems to be fixing for people. Do you take another med along with it?

Thanks, Bonnie

14

Hi All,

I took Verapamil for about four months last year. It helped with my vertigo, which was my primary symptom at that time. It didn’t help me with my other symptoms (you know the list: brain fog, visual aura, light sensitivity, etc, etc, etc…). In terms of side effects, I had constipation, mild headaches, and vivid dreams, which I tend to have anyway but they were worse with Verapamil. I don’t take it anymore, because my severe room-spinning vertigo has subsided. I believe the Verapamil may have played a part in stopping my severe vertigo bouts. I still get short vertigo bouts and other false sensations of motions, but nothing like the room spinning for days, weeks, or even months at a time.

I believe this is one of those medications that is worth giving a try due to the low incidence of side effects.

Take care everyone,

Marci

15

Scott, Bonnie, and everyone -

The Verapamil actually prevented me from getting my cluster (severe) migraines this year so far. I get cluster migraines from the beginning of March through May. I have suffered from these since I was 15. I have not had one headache since the Verapamil. I wasn’t suffering from migraines daily though when the dizziness started. i only get migraines in the spring time. I never really had an aura. I never dreamed in a million years that Verapamil would solve the cluster migraine issue as well.

My symptoms were: “spongewalking” feeling, general dizziness 24/7, heavy headed feeling, ear pressure, fatigue, brief vertigo spells, elevator/dropping feelings, motion sensitivity, light sensitivity, I felt better driving but hated stopping at stop signs and being still in the car, a rocking sensation, extreme anxiety with all this. I was pretty much house bound. I was frustrated and sad.

After 2 1/2 - 3 months on the Verapamil, I noticed I started having decent days, then good days, then even better days. The first symptom that went away was the full/heavy headed feeling and ear pressure. I then noticed the rocking feeling was completely gone. The general dizziness actually left some days. I am still alittle light sensitive but not like i was, I have always been though. I have not had any severe vertigo spells since. I have my life back pretty much. The anxiety lessens as the symptoms go away. Trust me on this one.

But…I noticed weather is a huge trigger for me. Somedays I do get a general dizzy feeling but it is not as intense. I get occasional elevator/drop feelings, but briefly, somedays not at all. I get head pressure with weather changes. I don’t have to really lay down at all with the dizziness I get now though. I get 90-95% and sometimes 100% days. Today I am at about 90%, it is stormy here.

Side effects: I get tired about an hour after taking the Verapamil at night. I was told to take it before bedtime, so that is okay. I take it around 10:00 every night. I never really had the constipation side effect, maybe alittle at first. I just drank more water and ate more fruits and veggies. Nothing to complain about though. The first week or so on it, I had a hard time falling asleep. I think i was just so wired up about starting the med, that I did it to myself and blamed the Verapamil. I gradually increased it and that made all the difference in the world, I think anyways. I have no stomach issues whatsoever. That is why I love this med, little to no side effects. I know I am going to be scared to get off this when the time comes. Dr. Hain said to stay on it for 2-3 years. This is the only med I take plus vitamins.

I wish this med would work for everyone. It is always worth a try. Just be sure to give it time to work.

Nance

16

Hi Nance,

So apart from the first week on verapamil, you say you get tired an hour after taking it, so does it help you to sleep better than before, or is there no difference in the sleep?
Thanks
Christine

17

Christine -

I would say I sleep better. Since I have been taking this, I do get up once to go to the bathroom. Every morning around 1:30, like clockwork. I think it is because I drink such a big glass of water with the pill around 10:00 pm or so. I go right back to sleep though. I definitely sleep sounder. For me, that is a good thing. I wasn’t sleeping well before. I noticed somebody, I think marci mentioned vivid dreams while taking Verapamil. I do dream more, not bad dreams, just weird, clear dreams. It is not bothersome at all or anything like that. I get maybe 2-3 vivid dreams that I can remember a week. I only had trouble sleeping that first week. I get myself so worked up because I hate trying new meds. I think I was to blame for the insomnia. I don’t know why I have such a pill phobia. I always have been nervous of meds.

nance

18

Thanks for all your replies!

I have been a little more dizzy the past few days, but Ithink its because I’ve been overdoing it (on motorbikes, inconsistent sleep). I did have a VERY GOOD coouple of days before that, so maybe its helping. Anyhow, I will stay on it a few months to see if it helps. After that its TOPAMAX all the way for me!

Constipation also a little better!

Scott - hows the Effexor going? I’m still in Thailand dude, but heading into Laos today!

Luke

19

Well the word is balls …

I thought Verapamil was working but I’ve been pretty dizzy the past 3 days. Only other thing it can be is lack of consistent good sleep. I have also been on a slow boat down the Mekong River in Laos for 2 days - when I got off I still felt like I was on the boat and at the moment I have a really bad rocking sensation and the feeling like my head may spin like a washing machine but wont?!

I’ll crack on with Verapamil and sort my sleep out - just annoying as I thought I was getting a beneficial effect - hopefully its not another ‘dud’.

20

Luke –

I am dumping the Effexor but currently sitting on a really low dose (10 beads) and feeling ok really. My headaches are the best they’ve been in about 2 months. I picked up a script for Paxil (paroxetine) so will likely introduce this during the week. I did that Mekong River thing about 8 years ago and loved it. You’re doing remarkably well doing all that you’re doing but with MAV in the picture. No doubt the food, travel etc is mucking you around. I think you’ll need to stick it out for at least a few months to get the full effect out of verap. It took Nance about that long and she’s doing great.

Scott