Posted by DickR (209.50.11.27) on December 28, 2001 at 08:13:00:
I have less experience with Verapamil than most here. But I thought even a brief history might help if you are considering this drug.
I am fortunate and did not have any of the side effects that some experience, so this has been a good drug for me.
Started in April 2000 while in a nasty cycle. Within three days of starting VerelanSR 240 1xd, the attacks dropped to tolerable. Within a week I doubled the dose to 480mg a day and within 5 days the attacks stopped completely.
After two months on the 480mg I dropped back to 240 for a month and then started to taper off by dropping to every other day. After doing this for a week I started to feel the pressure and went back to one a day. I discussed this with my Doctor and she told me that continuing the 240mg was not a problem and I could take that on a regular basis. That is what I have done.
About two weeks ago, I started waking up at 2 AM with a headache. No big deal I would get up and take two Excedrin Migraine and go back to bed. But this is normally my starting time for a cycle, so three days ago I doubled the Verelan. The first night I did this, the headache moved to 5 AM and the second day no headache at all, just some pressure. My only conclusion is that I am back in a cycle. But the Verapamil seems to do the job.
Hope this helps those that are considering this drug.