Hearts still 160 after verapamil?

[CarpetFluff]

Is anyone on verapamil? Does it work for you? I'm struggling to see any great benefit. It seems to have an effect after maybe 45 min-1 hour. And will lower my heart rate to 10/20 below what it was. So it has been around 178/9 and will drop lower. First time I took it it dropped to 99 when sitting very still. But as soon as I move it's back up again. And that low hasn't happened since that 1st dose yesterday.

I'm on 40mg 3x a day. I've phoned pharmacy and they say it's not a cumulative effect and should work right away. Which is seems to do in a way but then wears off extremely fast. And the benefit is minimal. It's sitting at 160 just now after taking it 2 hours ago so yes that's lower than nearly 180 but it's still extreme tachycardia.

Any experience? I have called gp and am on call back list but it's one who hasn't been involved in this at all.

Thanks.

I take 240mg slow release Verapamil once per day for SVT (supraventricular tachycardia). It works great for me. I get some breakthroughs sometimes, but nothing prolonged. Maybe that would work better for you. The Verapamil has been much better for me than the betablockers I was on previously.

I'm interested because it doesn't seem to work for me either

You need to go back to your Dr.

Sorry, I just realised it ciuld read like I thought Verapamil is a betablocker too...it's obviously a calcium channel blocker.

I do wonder if mine is effective because it's the slow release type, and a higher dose.

I've had a call back from GP he says I've to increase to 80mg 3x a day. But then changed to say maybe not 80 at once like I can take more but more often. My concern with 80 at once is I would have a sudden peak in effectiveness possibly too much and then it will be bad again.

I don't have svt so I think it's a bit if a guessing game what dose for me. I have sinus tachy because of an over active thyroid. (Have started on carbimizole too)

I was wondering about the modified release type. Are they more expensive? Cos they seem much more sensible than this thing with a short half life.

I'm really keen to try a beta blocker which is what's usually used for this. But my asthma makes them say no. I'm keen to just try and then monitor asthma if it worsens then can stop.

I'm not sure about the different costs to be honest. It was the cardiologist who put me on to the slow release version, I don't know if cost would have mattered so much!

I was wondering why you were not on a betablocker, didnt know that you had asthma. I have inappropriate SVT and am on Bisoprol 2.5 mg in a morning and its worked wonders, it has got my heart rate down, no breakthroughs at all since I have been on it, its a marvellous drug

i would go back to dr and seek their advice, i know its awful and draining living with constant tachycardia

I was on 7.5mg bisoprolol to control it but had bad side effects unfortunately, hence the change to verapamil. I suppose different drugs suit diffetent people!

FYI modified release formulations cost approx 5 x as much (some brands more) like for like (e.g. 28 SR tabs cost 5 x more than 84 IR tabs). Additionally there have been issues getting hold of the modified release ones on and off in the last year or so (although most prescribers probably arent aware of that). So I expect the cost is what means they arent prescribed as much. It isnt one of those things that is rarely prescribed though (verapamil isnt that commonly prescribed, but it is marginally more common than the modified release ones). At least not in my area, anyway, so it is worth asking your GP for it. Although it is relatively more expensive, it is still not crazy expensive whatsoever.

I feel like they are doing more to lower my bp than they are my hr

I have an appt in 2 weeks. I can go back then and I'll have been able to give a really good account of what's happening.

When did you start carbimazole? If you have only just started then your thyroid isn't under control yet and as soon as it is, your heart rate will come down by itself.