Can calcium channel blockers cause liver damage?

Many of the calcium channel blockers have been linked to rare instances of idiosyncratic drug induced liver disease. Hepatic injury from calcium channel blockers is usually mild and reversible, but rare symptomatic and severe instances have been reported.

What side effects should I be concerned with when taking verapamil?

Side Effects

  • Blue lips and fingernails.
  • chest pain.
  • coughing that sometimes produces a pink frothy sputum.
  • difficult, fast, noisy breathing, sometimes with wheezing.
  • dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up from a lying or sitting position suddenly.
  • lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting.
  • shortness of breath.

What medications are harmful to the liver?

Some medications linked to serious liver injury include the statin drugs used to treat high cholesterol, the combination drug amoxicillin-clavulanate (Augmentin), phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek), azathioprine (Azasan, Imuran), niacin (Niaspan), ketoconazole, certain antivirals and anabolic steroids.

Can blood pressure tablets damage your liver?

Lisinopril is an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor widely used in the therapy of hypertension and heart failure. Lisinopril is associated with a low rate of transient serum aminotransferase elevations and has been linked to rare instances of acute liver injury that can be severe and even fatal.

Can I drink alcohol with verapamil?

Yes, you can usually drink alcohol with verapamil. However, it’s best to not drink alcohol for the first few days when you start taking verapamil or if your doctor increases your dose. Wait until you know how the medicine affects you. This is because drinking alcohol can increase the effects of verapamil.

What happens if you stop taking verapamil suddenly?

What happens if you suddenly stop taking verapamil? Stopping verapamil can cause your blood pressure to rise. If you are taking it for high blood pressure, you should continue taking this medication even if you feel fine as high blood pressure often has no symptoms.

Is there a substitute for verapamil?

Worldwide, beta blockers and vasodilators, especially the calcium-channel blockers, are the most commonly used alternative agents. Several studies comparing these 2 classes of medications are reviewed. These studies indicate that verapamil, nifedipine and diltiazem are all comparable in efficacy to beta blockers.

Can I take vitamin D with verapamil?

Verapamil (Verelan, Calan SR). Taking high doses of vitamin D with this blood pressure drug can cause hypercalcemia, and might also reduce the effectiveness of verapamil.

Can verapamil be stopped abruptly?

Do not stop taking this medication without consulting your doctor. Some conditions may become worse when this drug is suddenly stopped. Your dose may need to be gradually decreased.