Verelan PM Uses

A healthcare provider may recommend Verelan PM for the treatment of high blood pressure. Because the medication has not been adequately studied in children, it has only been approved for use in adults. On occasion, healthcare providers may also prescribe the drug "off-label" for treating other medical conditions. Possible off-label Verelan PM uses include the treatment of migraine headaches, chest pain, and certain irregular heart rhythms.

 

Verelan PM Uses: An Overview

Verelan PM® (verapamil hydrochloride) is a prescription medication used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension).
 
A blood pressure reading consists of two numbers -- for example, 120/80. The top number is known as the systolic blood pressure, and the bottom number is the diastolic blood pressure. High blood pressure is defined as an average blood pressure higher than 140/90, with multiple blood pressure readings.
 
Based on clinical studies, Verelan PM has been shown to significantly lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure. By lowering blood pressure, Verelan PM can decrease the risk of developing health problems, such as a stroke, heart disease, or congestive heart failure, which can occur with long-term high blood pressure (see Effects of High Blood Pressure). However, Verelan PM is not a cure for high blood pressure.
 

How Verelan PM Works

Verelan PM is part of a class of drugs called
 calcium channel blockers. Verelan PM helps to slow down the rate at which calcium moves into your heart and blood vessel walls. This, in turn, helps to relax the blood vessels, which improves blood flow and helps to lower blood pressure. It also makes it easier for the heart to pump blood.
 
There are two basic types of calcium channel blockers, dihydropyridine and non-dihydropyridine. The most important difference between the two types is that non-dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers can slow down the heart rate, while dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers do not. Verelan PM is a non-dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker, which means that it can decrease the heart rate. As a result, Verelan PM is useful for treating certain types of irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias).
 
Verelan PM capsules contain tiny beads that are designed to begin releasing the medication slowly four to five hours after being taken. Because Verelan PM is taken at bedtime, the effects of Verelan PM peak in the early morning hours, when blood pressure naturally rises.
 
(Verelan PM Uses Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;