Verapamil and Headaches: What Users Say

• gwe...
• October 22, 2011

For High Blood Pressure "Verapamil ER 180 mg gave me tightness in chest, flu syndrome, cough, stomach pain, low-grade fever, and a general feeling of being unwell. Also tiredness, headache, and constipation. I took it for one week and discontinued due to these bad side effects. Unfortunately, this medicine is not for me. Further, it did not lower my hypertension at all."

• Nyt...
• October 15, 2015

For Migraine Prevention "I was diagnosed at 19. I began having bouts with hemiplegic migraines 10 years ago. While few and far between, they were very scary! No one offered medications to control them until now. For a year or better, I've had blurred vision in one eye that would come and go with a dull headache. After going to have a vision check, my optometrist sent me directly to a neurologist. Something the ER and my family doctor wouldn't do. The aura I get before a migraine has changed, and I'm having migraine spasms, which is a severe migraine without the normal pain symptoms. These actually caused my father's strokes at 41 years old! The neurologist started me on verapamil 40 mg 3 times a day. Pain-free finally! Slight joint pain, but worth it!"

• Mat...
• June 11, 2013

For Cluster Headaches "It does work really well. I have been dealing with these headaches for about 6 years now, and this is the best treatment yet. Headaches are not as frequent, I was having 4-6 a day lasting about an hour, extremely intense. Now it's down to two a day and not as intense. I do also take Imitrex when they are really bad, or if it wakes me up in my sleep. I noticed drinking a lot of water helps too, I hate these headaches and empathize with all of you."

• Sha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 22, 2016

For Arrhythmia "I am taking this drug for an arrhythmia and have been since July 2016. I didn't even know I had any condition until I passed out and ended up in the hospital. I am now 39. I have found that I get off balance from doing too much or if walking around for too long. I need to take 'breaks.' The last week I've started getting major headaches, going to the doctor this week about those. I am interested in knowing if anyone has continued their usual workouts? Or if they have been on scary rides at theme parks or even rock climbing, etc. I will be asking the doctor if it's okay, etc., but I have been so scared to do too much because of this new condition that my life is not the same, and I want my life back!!!"

• 2yo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 28, 2013

Verapamil for Arrhythmia "I'm on this medicine for heart arrhythmia. I'm 46, my heart does flip-flops and super rapid beats per min. Blood pressure sometimes is 180/110. Then it drops to 96/67, that little roller coaster ride makes you ill. I started the Calan SR 180 mg tab. It gives me a wicked headache in the left lobe and fatigue. It hasn't helped my heart from flip-flopping or my blood pressure from skyrocketing up and down like a yo-yo. However, it does calm my heart down once I have a spell and I take the meds. I generally fall asleep from fatigue. It could be that I haven't taken it long enough for it to start helping the high blood pressure or the irregular heartbeat. Perhaps the second month will show improvement."

• KY ...
• April 24, 2016

For Cluster Headaches "I've been experiencing chronic cluster headaches since 2005. I had no idea what was going on, and suffered for 3 years untreated and undiagnosed. After some internet sleuthing, I was able to tell my doc what was going on. Fast forward to 2016. I take verapamil 180 mg ER twice a day. This treatment has worked almost without fail, until just recently. In the past, I have had to take other meds in combination with the verapamil, such as Topamax, Imitrex, magnesium, prednisone, and now lithium. None of these work for me, been having daily headaches again. I now have a sumatriptan injection I take when I feel one coming, and it stops it within 10 minutes. I need help, please."

• jp3...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 15, 2023

For Supraventricular Tachycardia "Recently been given these to try after issues taking Ivabradine. I have been taking 3 40 mg tablets a day to control tachycardia, heart palpitations, migraines, and cluster headaches. So far, they haven't helped at all."

• Pin...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 2, 2019

For Arrhythmia "Been on verapamil for 2 months and taking 120 mgs 3 times a day. I’m very sweaty and have banging headaches/migraines constantly, and my legs have swollen and random orange/red-like rashes. Still, my heartbeat is too fast, but hoping it may settle, as it is still early days."

• Anonymous
• February 26, 2009

Verapamil for Supraventricular Tachycardia "I used verapamil for 5 years to treat supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). With each visit to the doctor, they increased my dosage. I started out taking 30 mg once a day and ended with 180 mg once a day. For the most part, my symptoms were never controlled. The drug caused extreme fatigue and tiredness. I often had severe headaches and was constipated. I have been switched to atenolol 50 mg once a day now. Hopefully, I won't have as many unwanted side effects."

• Ger...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 23, 2017

For Cluster Headaches "I am on 320 mg 3 times a day. I find that they soften my headache, but I still suffer a few headaches weekly (nowhere near how many I suffer without verapamil). My ankles have now decided to balloon up daily, so I need to rethink my treatment and may have to try something else as I'm not allowed a higher dose either."

• Jac...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 1, 2020

For Cluster Headaches "I’m a 43-year-old male in good health. I get episodic cluster headaches about every 2-4 years, lasting 4-8 weeks. My cluster headaches started in my early 30s. I only take Verapamil during a cluster cycle. My neurologist prescribed Verapamil ER 240 mg as a preventative at that time. With my most recent episode, breakthrough headaches that require a triptan were gone after 2 days of Verapamil and 4 mg methylprednisolone. After about 3 weeks of onset and 2 weeks of no prednisone, I still have symptoms and headaches, but not the debilitating type. I can work and go through most of my normal routine without much issue."

• Osc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 28, 2020

For Migraine Prevention "I have had migraines since my teens, now in my 60s. I'm on verapamil 40 mg again. I was on it years ago, but it stopped working. Just started again and no headaches since. One of the comments said it did not work and they take extra-strength Excedrin. Doing this, I know from experience, and doctors will cause rebound headaches. I still resort to it sometimes, but then get rebounds."