Isoptin
Isoptin tablets contain verapamil, a calcium channel blocker for high blood pressure, angina and fast or irregular heart rhythms, sold in 40mg, 120mg and 240mg strengths.
All strengths and pack prices
| Strength | Pack | Price | Per tablet |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40mg | 60 tablets | $39.60 | $0.66 |
| 40mg | 90 tablets | $39.60 | $0.44 |
| 120mg | 30 tablets | $36.60 | $1.22 |
| 120mg | 60 tablets | $53.40 | $0.89 |
| 120mg | 90 tablets | $71.10 | $0.79 |
| 240mg | 30 tablets | $58.50 | $1.95 |
| 240mg | 60 tablets | $109.80 | $1.83 |
| 240mg | 90 tablets | $156.60 | $1.74 |
- Category
- Heart & Blood Pressure
- Active ingredient
- Verapamil
- Route
- Oral
- Form
- Tablet
- Strengths
- 40/120/240mg
You will receive a quality generic equivalent, depending on stock.
Shipped in a discreet, unmarked envelope.
Details
- Conditions
- Hypertension · Angina · Arrhythmia
- Therapeutic Class
- Calcium channel blocker
- Pharmacological Class
- Phenylalkylamine
- Minor Side Effects
- Constipation, Dizziness
- Moderate Side Effects
- Low blood pressure, Headache
- Dosage Forms
- Tablet
- Administration Route
- Oral
- Originator
- Abbott
- Storage Instructions
- Store at room temperature.
- Drug Interactions
- Beta-blockers, Digoxin
What you will receive
Isoptin is the originator brand name, made by Abbott. We use it to identify the medicine; the pack you receive is a generic equivalent, not the original Isoptin.
- The same active ingredient (Verapamil) at the same strength.
- The exact brand supplied depends on what is in stock when your order ships.
FAQ
Which Isoptin strengths and pack sizes can I order?
Isoptin comes as tablets in 40mg, 120mg and 240mg. Packs range from 60 to 90 tablets for 40mg, and 30 to 90 tablets for 120mg and 240mg. The pack contains generic verapamil, not the original Isoptin. Larger packs cost less per tablet.
Can my Isoptin order be split for delivery?
For Isoptin, very large orders over 120 units may be split into several parcels. Each parcel ships in plain, unbranded packaging with nothing outside about the contents. Tracked courier takes 5 to 9 business days with online tracking; standard airmail takes 14 to 21 business days, or 30 at most, untracked.
What is another name for verapamil?
Isoptin and Calan SR are brand names of verapamil, which is also sold as Securon, Verelan and Cordilox. Here, verapamil can be bought online as generic Isoptin, and also as verapamil tablets. These are generics, not the original brand.
How long does Isoptin take to work?
Blood pressure starts to ease within a couple of hours of a dose, but the full effect builds over days and often a few weeks of steady use, which is why readings taken early on can look disappointing. Control of angina and a steadier heart rate usually follow the same pattern.
Can I drink alcohol with Isoptin?
Alcohol adds to the blood-pressure-lowering effect, so a drink may leave you dizzier or woozier than normal, most of all on standing. Small amounts are less likely to bring on that drop, and the first week or two is the time to go easiest.
Does grapefruit affect Isoptin?
Yes. Grapefruit and grapefruit juice slow the breakdown of verapamil, so more of it stays in your blood and its effect on your pulse and blood pressure is stronger than expected. Oranges and lemons do not do this.
How does Isoptin differ from amlodipine?
Both are calcium channel blockers, but they are not the same medicine. Amlodipine acts mainly on blood vessels and is used for high blood pressure and angina. Verapamil also slows the electrical signals in the heart, so it is used for fast and irregular rhythms as well.
Does Isoptin cause constipation?
It often does — constipation is the side effect people notice most with verapamil, because the medicine relaxes the muscle in the gut wall and stools move through more slowly. It tends to appear in the first days or weeks and may ease as your body adjusts.
About Isoptin
What Isoptin tablets are for
Isoptin tablets contain verapamil, a calcium channel blocker used for three heart and circulation problems: high blood pressure, angina (chest pain that comes on when the heart muscle is short of oxygen) and arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation, where the heartbeat becomes fast or uneven. It comes as 40mg, 120mg and 240mg tablets, swallowed with water.
Isoptin is one of two verapamil products here. The other, Verapamil, comes in 40mg and 120mg tablets, so 240mg is found only on Isoptin. Both are covered on the verapamil page.
How verapamil works
Calcium is what the muscle in the heart and artery walls needs in order to squeeze, and verapamil keeps some of it out. Arteries relax and pressure drops. The heart also needs less oxygen for each beat, which is why angina is less likely. Its electrical signals slow too, evening out a fast or ragged rhythm. A single tablet will not do this; the effect comes from regular use.
Taking Isoptin tablets
Swallow the tablets whole with water; chewing or crushing them is not the way to take them. Frequency depends on the strength: 40mg tablets are usually spread over the day, while 120mg and 240mg tablets are taken less often. Fixed times each day keep the level in your blood even.
Side effects worth knowing
Constipation is the complaint that comes up most, and it can be noticeable in the first week because verapamil relaxes the muscle in the gut wall as well as in the arteries. Dizziness, headache, flushing and swollen ankles are also reported. A pulse that turns very slow, fainting or sudden breathlessness needs urgent attention.
Grapefruit, other medicines and storage
Grapefruit juice raises the amount of verapamil in your bloodstream, making dizziness and a slow pulse more likely, so it is best left out of your diet while you take these tablets. Beta-blockers such as bisoprolol or atenolol, and digoxin, can add to verapamil's effect on the heart. Keep the tablets in their original pack somewhere cool and dry, out of direct sunlight.
Sources
- Verapamil: MedlinePlus Drug Information — MedlinePlus / National Library of Medicine
- High blood pressure - NHS — NHS