does anyone take verapamil?

Hi @bbuck . I can't speak specifically to verapamil but I see that it is a calcium channel blocker. I've posted this elsewhere but .... Pre-oHCM-diagnosis I was put on metoprolol (a beta-blocker) and instantly could not stay awake. Loved your car analogy but in my case one foot was on the accelerator, the other was on the brake, it was in Park, and the parking brake was engaged! After being awake for about 6 hours, I would literally fall asleep at my desk, in the car, or wherever. I was taken off the metoprolol and put on the calcium channel blocker diltiazem (tiazac, cardizem, and other trade names). The problem disappeared as the metoprolol was flushed out of my system. Have been on the calcium channel blocker diltiazem for years now, including taking it alongside Camzyos for the last couple years, with no problems whatsoever. I'm not nearly clever enough to know why one and not the other, but it might be worth asking your Dr about trying a different calcium channel blocker? Ha! - according to https://www.drugs.com/compare/diltiazem-vs-verapamil diltiazem is actually WORSE for causing fatigue than verapramil. It's also more expensive and has more reports of negative side effects. Yep, check with your doctor, not me. And good luck with it. It was no fun being that tired all the time!

Thanks for your personal testimony. I'm waiting for my next ECHO to see of any changes. Drugs are confusing, since I understand the beta blocker is supposed to lessen the load on your heart, but for whatever reason, it feels like it's having to work harder to keep me going!?

Yes, I've been on Verapamil 120 CR (2x) a day for about 20 years. I didn't tolerate beta blockers, including metoprolol, even once a day. I felt like I was slogging through thick mud with my BP too low. Ask your doctor if you can take the continuous release as I had to do that to reduce the side effects.
I was just put on Metoprolol 12mg, twice a day in April after my septal myectomy, while still taking the verapamil as before. I was told I might have elevated pressure after the surgery. I've been doing well with my regimen but I may go off it if my pressure stays down.
Just my experience.

I have been on verapamil for several years. It is a wonder drug for me in the sense that it controls my chest pain fairly well. I take a small dose of 40 mg in the morning and at night. Even when I was on Camzyos, I stayed on it. They just started me at 2.5 instead of 5. I am off Camzyos now. I also take 5 mg of Olmesartan each day. This combo with verapamil has been good to combat pain and high BP.

I read that they're recalling Verapamil plus 2 others.

I took Verapamil to "make my heart work less intensely" for many years with no side effects. When my HOCM reached the point where surgery was necessary, my dosage was increased (do not remember how much). At that point, eating unsalted nuts, drinking plenty of water and drinking Metamucil did not begin to help the one side effect I experienced. That side effect disappeared after surgery, and I have been taking Metoprolol 50 mg SUCC once a day ever since.

I was on it for about 2 months. It caused me terrible constipation so had to go off it.

I was started on Metoprolol when first diagnosed about a year and a half ago. Initially it worked wonders and decreased the pressure gradient near the aortic valve immensely. I continued to take it but it totally wiped me out so was on a low dosage (25mg). Was not feeling well and went back to my cardiologist. The echo showed that the gradient was higher than it had ever been . ):
So I was referred to the HCM specialists and started on Verapamil 120mg. My symptoms are fatigue and shortness of breath with exertion and these didn't seem to change so the dose was bumped up to 180mg. The nurse I spoke with stated that when you get the right dose of Verapamil patients have felt so much better with in a short period of time. I am waiting for that to happen. Anyone out there experience a remarkable improvement on Verapamil??

Hi, @bbuck ; I have been on 240mg verapamil (once daily) for about 15 years for arrythmia. I was initially diagnosed at age 25 with anxiety disorder after my first massive arrythmia episode (may very well have been part panic attack- part existing arrythmia disorder). It was several years before I was re-diagnosed with A-fib in my late 30's when I started having mini-arrythmias frequently. That's when I was put on verapamil and for me, it was a magic drug! Never has arrythmia AS LONG AS I TAKE my pills! Yes, at one point several years ago I thought I was "cured" and stopped taking the verapamil. Did fine for a while and then had another pretty hefty attack for which I had to call an ambulance because I was starting get too dizzy to drive. Interestingly, at that time, the EMTs put me on the ECG all the way to the hospital which they were actually able to save as a digi file and give to the attending who, luckily, turned out to be a visiting cardiologist from Korea. He re-diagnosed me again with SVT. I remain on 240 mg and have seemed to suffer no bad consequences. Keeps my heart in line like it's supposed to! Good Luck to you 🙂

My neurologist has just prescribed Verapamil for my chronic migraines. I’ve tried all the preventatives including infusions, but none of them have worked. Triptans are my friend but I’m hoping this new drug will limit my migraines.

Does anyone have recent experience with this drug? Thanks for your feedback.