What Are the Pros and Cons of a Verapamil Injection?

A verapamil injection can be very effective for the management of certain heart conditions and has proven experimentally successful for Peyronie’s disease, where the penis develops an abnormal curvature. The costs and benefits of the medication can depend on the specifics of a patient’s case. Before taking the drug, it can be advisable to discuss alternatives and their efficacy, to learn more about the options and determine if verapamil is the best choice for a given situation. Second opinions can provide additional insight for patients who feel unsure.

Taking medications by injection can be riskier than taking oral medications, because the injection introduces the risk of infection. With medications like verapamil that need to be delivered slowly to reduce the change of a complication, there are also concerns with how the drug administered. If patients can take oral tablets, this may be better than a verapamil injection. It’s also advisable to only take the drug under supervision, so nurses will be available to intervene in the event of a bad reaction.

The drug acts as a vasodilator, so is not recommended for cases when patients have low blood pressure or a slow heart rate. In rare cases, it can cause hypotension when administered to patients with normal blood pressure. It can also slow the heart rate or damage the liver; these complications can be addressed quickly if they are observed by a care provider. Patients taking the medication at home should be alert to signs of complications associated with a verapamil injection so they can call for help if they need it.

Side effects can include nausea and headache, which should resolve quickly if they do develop. Patients who experience fainting, dizziness, and confusion may be developing a severe adverse reaction, which requires immediate medical attention. Patients already in heart failure may get worse after a verapamil injection, another risk to consider, and breastfeeding patients shouldn’t take the medication.

In cases where a verapamil injection is the best treatment option and a care provider recommends it, the benefits may outweigh the risks. Controlling abnormal heart rhythms can stabilize patients and reduce strain on the heart muscle. This can increase the chances of long term survival, making the potential adverse effects an acceptable tradeoff for a patient who needs immediate attention. People with concerns about a verapamil injection can ask about the success rate of various alternatives, if any are available, to find out if there is another option.