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Verapamil

Verapamil is a calcium channel blocker used to treat high blood pressure, angina (chest pain from reduced blood flow to the heart) and certain fast or irregular heart rhythms, depending on the product.

Brand names CalanCalan SRCovera HSVerelanVerelan PM +2 more
Drug class Calcium Channel Blocker
Rx Forms 6
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Reviewed by Last reviewed Jul 10, 2026 Content updated Oct 2, 2026
🧬 Where this information comes from Click to expand

The clinical label records used on this page are FDA-filed Structured Product Labeling (SPL) retrieved through openFDA. We identified 67 clinical label sets within the page’s selected clinical scope after exact ingredient or ingredient-combination matching and applicable route/form matching. Forms, routes, brands, labelers, strengths, and NDC product-record counts are built separately from matching FDA National Drug Code Directory records. The linked DailyMed document is a representative official source for verification, not the page’s only clinical source. View the linked label on DailyMed →

Verapamil at a glance The quick version — the full detail is in the Patient Information Guide below.
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
The Pharmacist’s Take By · Clinical pharmacist · Written

Verapamil is an older calcium channel blocker, on the market since about 1981 and available as a generic, that treats high blood pressure, angina (chest pain from reduced blood flow to the heart) and some fast heart rhythms by relaxing arteries and slowing the heart's electrical signals. Most people tolerate it well, and constipation is the side effect they notice most, along with headache, dizziness or ankle swelling. Watch for the heart slowing or weakening too much (a very slow pulse, fainting, new breathlessness or swelling), a risk that rises alongside a beta blocker. It interacts with many medicines, so check with your pharmacist before adding anything new.

Clinical pearls

  • Skip grapefruit juice, and expect alcohol to hit harder and last longer, since verapamil raises blood alcohol levels.
  • Take extended-release tablets with food; bedtime PM capsules can be swallowed whole or sprinkled on applesauce, never crushed or chewed.
  • Digoxin levels climb on verapamil, and simvastatin or lovastatin doses must be capped to avoid muscle damage.
  • Erythromycin, ritonavir and some other drugs raise verapamil levels, so mention it to anyone prescribing you an antibiotic.
How we write & review this content — our editorial policy →
How you get itPrescription only
Comes asInjection, Tablet, Extended-release tablet +3
Earliest FDA record1981
Companies listing it with the FDA41
FDA label last updatedNov 27, 2024
FDA’s strongest warning (boxed)None on the label

Patient information guide A plain-language walkthrough of Verapamil, written from its FDA label.

What Verapamil is used for

▾

Verapamil treats several heart and blood pressure conditions, depending on the product.

  • Verapamil hydrochloride tablets (oral): angina at rest (including vasospastic and unstable angina) and chronic stable angina.
  • Verapamil hydrochloride tablets (oral): with digitalis, control of heart rate in chronic atrial flutter or atrial fibrillation.
  • Verapamil hydrochloride tablets (oral): prevention of repeated paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (episodes of fast heartbeat).
  • Tablets, extended-release tablets and capsules (including PM and sustained-release capsules): high blood pressure.
  • Verapamil injection (intravenous): rapid conversion of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia to normal rhythm, and temporary control of a fast ventricular rate in atrial flutter or atrial fibrillation (not when an accessory bypass tract is present).

How Verapamil works

▾

Verapamil is an L-type calcium channel blocker. It limits calcium entering artery muscle cells and heart cells. This relaxes and widens the arteries, lowers resistance and eases the heart's workload.

It also slows electrical conduction through the AV node. That helps control a fast heart rate in atrial fibrillation or flutter.

Verapamil dosage

▾

Dosing is individualized, and your prescriber adjusts it step by step. Follow your label.

  • Immediate-release tablets: usually taken several times a day.
  • Extended-release tablets: taken with food, in the morning.
  • Sustained-release capsules: taken by mouth once daily in the morning.
  • PM extended-release capsules: taken once daily at bedtime. Swallow whole or sprinkle the contents on applesauce. Do not crush or chew.
  • Injection: given by a healthcare professional into a vein with monitoring.

Dosing details from the FDA-approved label

From the Verapamil prescribing information (“Dosage and Administration”). Doses are set by your prescriber for your product, condition, kidney function and age — never change a dose on your own.

  • Essential Hypertension (extended-release capsules, usual dose)
    • 200 mg given by mouth once daily at bedtime
    • If an adequate response is not obtained, titrate upward to 300 mg each evening, then 400 mg each evening (2 × 200 mg)
    • Maximum: 400 mg each evening
    • Swallow capsule whole or sprinkle entire contents onto one tablespoonful of applesauce; do not crush or chew
  • Essential Hypertension in patients with impaired renal function, impaired hepatic function, elderly or low-weight patients (extended-release capsules)
    • In rare instances, initial dose of 100 mg a day once daily at bedtime may be warranted
    • For patients who have an increased response to verapamil
  • Adult (intravenous injection)
    • Initial dose 5 to 10 mg (0.075 to 0.15 mg/kg body weight) as an intravenous bolus over at least 2 minutes
    • Repeat dose 10 mg (0.15 mg/kg body weight) 30 minutes after the first dose if the initial response is not adequate
    • Give under continuous ECG and blood pressure monitoring; optimal interval for subsequent doses has not been determined and should be individualized
  • Older patients (intravenous injection)
    • Administer the dose over at least 3 minutes
    • To minimize the risk of untoward drug effects
  • Pediatric 0 to 1 year (intravenous injection)
    • Initial dose 0.1 to 0.2 mg/kg body weight (usual single-dose range: 0.75 to 2 mg) as an intravenous bolus over at least 2 minutes under continuous ECG monitoring
    • Repeat dose 0.1 to 0.2 mg/kg body weight (usual single-dose range: 0.75 to 2 mg) 30 minutes after the first dose if the initial response is not adequate
    • Optimal interval for subsequent doses has not been determined and should be individualized
  • Pediatric 1 to 15 years (intravenous injection)
    • Initial dose 0.1 to 0.3 mg/kg body weight (usual single-dose range: 2 to 5 mg) as an intravenous bolus over at least 2 minutes
    • Repeat dose 0.1 to 0.3 mg/kg body weight (usual single-dose range: 2 to 5 mg) 30 minutes after the first dose if the initial response is not adequate
    • Maximum: Do not exceed 5 mg initial dose; do not exceed 10 mg as a single dose for repeat dose
    • Optimal interval for subsequent doses has not been determined and should be individualized
Read the label’s full dosing text

2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION THE CONTENTS OF THE Verapamil Hydrochloride Extended-release Capsules (PM) CAPSULE SHOULD NOT BE CRUSHED OR CHEWED. Verapamil Hydrochloride Extended-release Capsules (PM) CAPSULES ARE TO BE SWALLOWED WHOLE OR THE ENTIRE CONTENTS OF THE CAPSULE SPRINKLED ONTO APPLESAUCE. Do not crush or chew capsule contents; swallow capsule whole or sprinkle entire contents onto applesauce ( 2.2 , 17 ) Usual dosage: 200 mg once daily at bedtime; if inadequate response, titrate upward to 300 mg, then 400 mg once daily at bedtime ( 2.1 ) Initial dose of 100 mg once daily at bedtime in patients with renal or hepatic impairment, elderly or low-weight patients ( 2.1 ) 2.1 Essential Hypertension Administer Verapamil Hydrochloride Extended-release Capsules (PM) once daily at bedtime. Clinical trials studied doses of 100 mg, 200 mg, 300 mg, and 400 mg. The usual daily dose of extended-release Verapamil Hydrochloride Extended-release Capsules (PM) in clinical trials has been 200 mg given by mouth once daily at bedtime. In rare instances, initial doses of 100 mg a day may be warranted in patients who have an increased response to verapamil [e.g. patients with impaired renal function, impaired hepatic function, elderly, low-weight patients, etc. ( see Use in Specific Populations ( 8.5 , 8.6 , 8.7 ) )]. Base upward titration on therapeutic efficacy and safety evaluated approximately 24 hours after dosing. The antihypertensive effects of Verapamil Hydrochloride Extended-release Capsules (PM) are evident within the first week of therapy. If an adequate response is not obtained with 200 mg of Verapamil Hydrochloride Extended-release Capsules (PM), the dose may be titrated upward in the following manner: a) 300 mg each evening b) 400 mg each evening (2 × 200 mg) When Verapamil Hydrochloride Extended-release Capsules (PM) is administered at bedtime, office evaluation of blood pressure during morning and early afternoon hours is essentially a measure of peak effect. The usual evaluation of trough effect, which sometimes might be needed to evaluate the appropriateness of any given dose of Verapamil Hydrochloride Extended-release Capsules (PM), would be just prior to bedtime.

Excerpted — the section continues on the label. Read the full Dosage and Administration section on DailyMed →

Verapamil side effects

▾

Common side effects include:

Common side effects

  • Constipation
  • Headache
  • Dizziness
  • Swelling in the legs or ankles (peripheral edema)
  • Infections such as colds, sore throat or sinus infections
  • Flu-like symptoms
  • Fatigue
  • Nausea

When to get medical help

  • Get help right away for new or worsening shortness of breath, swelling or signs of heart failure.
  • Call your doctor if you feel very dizzy or faint, which can mean blood pressure is too low.
  • Call your doctor for a very slow heartbeat or signs of heart block.
  • Tell your doctor about malaise, fever or pain in the upper right abdomen. These can be signs of liver injury.
  • Call your doctor for severe constipation or belly swelling. Rarely, verapamil has been linked to a temporary bowel blockage (paralytic ileus) that reverses when the drug is stopped.
  • Seek emergency care after any overdose. Treat every verapamil overdose as serious.

Verapamil warnings and precautions

▾
  • Heart failure: verapamil can weaken the heart's pumping in some people. Avoid it with severe left ventricular dysfunction.
  • Low blood pressure: it can cause dizziness or fainting.
  • AV block and slow heart rate: your dose may need to be lowered or the drug stopped.
  • Liver enzymes: they can rise, so periodic liver monitoring is prudent.
  • Accessory bypass tract: verapamil can cause a very rapid ventricular response or ventricular fibrillation (a dangerous heart rhythm). It is contraindicated in these patients.
  • Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: serious effects, including deaths, have been reported.

Verapamil interactions

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Verapamil interacts with many medicines, foods and alcohol.

  • Beta blockers: can cause a very slow heart rate or heart block.
  • Digoxin: levels can rise 50% to 75%.
  • Simvastatin and lovastatin: doses are limited because of a higher risk of muscle damage.
  • Alcohol: blood alcohol levels rise and last longer.
  • CYP3A4 inhibitors (erythromycin, ritonavir, telithromycin): can raise verapamil levels.
  • Rifampin and phenobarbital: can lower verapamil levels.
  • Grapefruit juice: can raise verapamil levels.
  • Ivabradine: avoid the combination.
  • Quinidine, disopyramide, flecainide, clonidine, lithium, carbamazepine, cyclosporine, theophylline: may need dose changes or monitoring.

Interactions listed in the FDA-approved label

From the Verapamil prescribing information (“Drug Interactions”): what the manufacturer studied or reported to the FDA.

  • CYP3A4 inhibitors (e.g., erythromycin, ritonavir): Elevation of plasma levels of verapamil.
  • CYP3A4 inducers (e.g., rifampin): Lowering of plasma levels of verapamil.
  • Simvastatin: Co-administration of multiple doses of 10 mg verapamil with 80 mg simvastatin resulted in exposure to simvastatin 2.5-fold that following simvastatin alone; myopathy/rhabdomyolysis reported with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. Limit the dose of simvastatin in patients on verapamil to 10 mg daily.
  • Lovastatin: Use of CYP3A4-substrate HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors with verapamil has been associated with reports of myopathy/rhabdomyolysis. Limit the daily dose of lovastatin to 40 mg.
  • Grapefruit juice: May significantly increase concentrations of verapamil; the increase is not expected to have any clinical consequences.
  • Beta blockers: May result in additive negative effects on heart rate, AV conduction and/or cardiac contractility; reports of excess bradycardia and AV block, including complete heart block. Use only with caution and close monitoring.
  • Digoxin: Chronic verapamil treatment can increase serum digoxin levels by 50% to 75% during the first week of therapy, which can result in digitalis toxicity. Consider reducing digoxin dose; monitor digoxin level periodically.
  • Alcohol: Verapamil significantly inhibits ethanol elimination, resulting in elevated blood ethanol concentrations that may prolong the intoxicating effects of alcohol.
  • Ivabradine: Verapamil increases exposure to ivabradine and may exacerbate bradycardia and conduction disturbances. Avoid concomitant use of ivabradine and verapamil.
  • Clonidine: Sinus bradycardia resulting in hospitalization and pacemaker insertion has been reported. Monitor heart rate in patients receiving concomitant verapamil and clonidine.
Read the label’s full interactions text

7 DRUG INTERACTIONS CYP3A4 inhibitors increase verapamil levels ( 7.1 ) CYP3A4 inducers decrease verapamil levels ( 7.1 ) If simvastatin is co-administered with verapamil, do not exceed doses greater than 10 mg daily of simvastatin ( 7.2 ) If lovastatin is co-administered with verapamil, do not exceed doses greater than 40 mg daily of lovastatin ( 7.2 ) Grapefruit juice may significantly increase verapamil levels ( 7.3 ) Beta blockers: reports of excess bradycardia and AV block, including complete heart block; monitor closely ( 7.4 ) Digoxin levels can increase by 50 to 75%; reduce digoxin dose ( 7.5 ) Alcohol elimination inhibited resulting in elevated ethanol levels ( 7.6 ) 7.1 CYP3A4 Inhibitors and Inducers In vitro metabolic studies indicate that verapamil is metabolized by cytochrome P450, CYP3A4, CYP1A2, and CYP2C. Clinically significant interactions have been reported with inhibitors of CYP3A4 (e.g., erythromycin, ritonavir) causing elevation of plasma levels of verapamil. Hypotension, bradyarrhythmias, and lactic acidosis have been observed in patients receiving concurrent telithromycin, an antibiotic in the ketolide class of antibiotics. Inducers of CYP3A4 (e.g., rifampin) have caused a lowering of plasma levels of verapamil. Ivabradine Concurrent use of verapamil increases exposure to ivabradine and may exacerbate bradycardia and conductions disturbances. Avoid concomitant use of ivabradine and verapamil. 7.2 HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors The use of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors that are CYP3A4 substrates in combination with verapamil has been associated with reports of myopathy/rhabdomyolysis. Co-administration of multiple doses of 10 mg of verapamil with 80 mg simvastatin resulted in exposure to simvastatin 2.5-fold that following simvastatin alone. Limit the dose of simvastatin in patients on verapamil to 10 mg daily. Limit the daily dose of lovastatin to 40 mg.

Excerpted — the section continues on the label. Read the full Drug Interactions section on DailyMed →

Not a complete list. The label covers the interactions the manufacturer studied or reported, and our own interaction database does not cover every medicine either. Bring your full medication list, including vitamins and herbal products, to your pharmacist.

🌿295 supplements and herbs with documented Verapamil interactions, ranked by severity Check Verapamil against a supplement or herb →

Before taking Verapamil

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  • Do not take it with severe left ventricular dysfunction, very low blood pressure or cardiogenic shock.
  • Do not take it with sick sinus syndrome or second- or third-degree AV block, unless you have a working pacemaker.
  • Do not take it with atrial flutter or fibrillation plus an accessory bypass tract.
  • Tell your doctor about heart failure, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, liver or kidney problems, muscular dystrophy or myasthenia gravis.
  • Pregnancy: use only if the benefit justifies the risk.
  • Breastfeeding: verapamil passes into breast milk.
  • Children: safety and effectiveness have not been established for oral verapamil.
  • Older adults may need lower starting doses.

Verapamil overdose

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Too much verapamil can cause very low blood pressure, a slow heartbeat and serious heart conduction problems. Other problems can include seizures and kidney trouble. Treat any overdose as serious and get emergency help. Extended-release forms need observation for at least 48 hours, because effects can be delayed.

What Verapamil does in the body

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Verapamil widens the arteries, which lowers resistance and blood pressure, usually without a big drop on standing or a racing heart. It slows conduction through the AV node. It does not change total calcium levels in the blood and does not cause airway tightening.

How your body processes Verapamil

▾

More than 90% of an oral dose is absorbed. The liver breaks much of it down on the first pass, so only about 20% to 35% reaches the bloodstream. Immediate-release verapamil peaks in 1 to 2 hours. About 70% of a dose leaves in the urine as metabolites. Half-life can be longer in older adults and in people with liver disease.

How to store Verapamil

▾

Store at Controlled Room Temperature 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F). Avoid excessive heat. Protect from moisture.

Written from the FDA-approved label with AI and reviewed by our pharmacy team. How we use AI →

295

Supplements & herbs that interact with Verapamil

295 supplements and herbal products have documented interactions with Verapamil in the licensed clinical database we use. Most are manageable — but your pharmacist should know about everything you take, including vitamins and herbals.

Severity mix
  • Major · 10
  • Moderate · 245
  • Minor · 40
ACTIVATED CHARCOAL Major AMERICAN HELLEBORE Major AMERICAN MISTLETOE Major BEER Major COLEUS Major GRAPEFRUIT Major SIBERIAN COCKLEBUR Major ST. JOHN'S WORT Major +287 more
Every supplement checked against Verapamil — ranked by severity The full interaction hub: 10 major · 245 moderate · 40 minor · every one linked to its full report. Check Verapamil against your exact supplements

Educational information from a licensed clinical database (Natural Medicines) — see our data sources & update cadence. Not medical advice: an interaction being documented does not mean it will happen to you; do not start or stop medications or supplements without professional guidance.

2

Nutrient depletion considerations

Verapamil has been associated with lower levels of 2 nutrients in the clinical literature. This does not mean a deficiency will occur — it means these may be worth discussing with your pharmacist or healthcare provider, especially with long-term use.

COENZYME Q10 Insufficient Evidence VITAMIN C Insufficient Evidence
See the full Verapamil nutrient depletion report

Educational information from a licensed clinical database (Natural Medicines) — not medical advice. Do not start or stop medications or supplements without professional guidance.

Verapamil: pharmacist answers to common questions

Quick, plain-English answers to the questions patients ask most about Verapamil — the kind of thing our pharmacy team would talk through with you at the counter.

What is verapamil used for?

▾
It depends on the product. Verapamil tablets treat angina, certain fast heart rhythms and high blood pressure. Extended-release forms are used for high blood pressure. The injection is used in a medical setting for fast heart rhythms.

How should I take my extended-release verapamil?

▾
Extended-release tablets are taken with food in the morning. The PM capsules are taken at bedtime. Swallow capsules whole, or sprinkle the entire contents on applesauce. Never crush or chew the contents. Follow your label and prescriber.

What side effects should I expect?

▾
Constipation is the most common, along with headache, dizziness and ankle swelling. Tell your doctor if they bother you. Call right away for fainting, a very slow heartbeat, shortness of breath or liver symptoms like fever and upper right belly pain.

Can I drink alcohol or grapefruit juice with verapamil?

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Verapamil raises blood alcohol levels and can make intoxication last longer, so be careful. Grapefruit juice can raise verapamil levels. Ask me or your doctor how much, if any, is okay for you.

Do I need to worry about other medicines?

▾
Yes, verapamil interacts with many drugs. Beta blockers, digoxin, simvastatin, lovastatin and ivabradine are the main ones. Check with me before starting any new prescription, over-the-counter medicine or supplement.

Is verapamil safe in pregnancy?

▾
Verapamil should be used in pregnancy only if the benefit justifies the risk to the baby. It also passes into breast milk. Talk with your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to be, or breastfeeding.

Is Verapamil available over the counter?

▾
No. Verapamil is a prescription medicine: every Verapamil product listed with the FDA is prescription only, so it is not sold over the counter. Your prescriber decides whether it is appropriate for you, and your pharmacist dispenses it.

When was Verapamil first available?

▾
The earliest FDA record we hold for Verapamil is from 1981: its first approval in Drugs@FDA or its earliest product listing in the NDC Directory, whichever is older. Many older medicines were in use before their first formal FDA approval, so this is the earliest date on record, not necessarily when Verapamil was first used.

Who makes Verapamil?

▾
41 companies currently list Verapamil products in the FDA's NDC Directory, including HF Acquisition Co LLC, DBA HealthFirst, Bryant Ranch Prepack, Medical Purchasing Solutions, LLC. That count includes repackagers and distributors as well as manufacturers (companies that sell only the raw ingredient are not counted), so fewer companies actually make it; the label on your bottle names the one that supplied yours.

Answers drafted from the FDA-approved label with AI and reviewed by our pharmacy team. How we use AI →

More about Verapamil on HelloPharmacist

📊Verapamil supplement interactions295 checked — ranked by severity 🌿Drug & Supplement CheckerVerapamil vs. vitamins & herbs 💬Ask a PharmacistFree answer, usually < 24h 🔎NDC & pricing lookupFind Verapamil NDCs & costs 🅰️Browse Drugs A–ZLook up any medication
Detailed data & references for Verapamil Forms & strengths, pricing, billing codes, manufacturers, safety reports and sourcing — the data behind the page. Most people can stop here. Each section below opens on a tap.

Verapamil forms and strengths (how it comes)

Verapamil is available in 6 forms. Different forms and brands can have different approved uses, doses, schedules, and directions. Follow the instructions for your exact product, and do not switch forms without guidance from your prescriber or pharmacist.

Injection

Into a vein
Brands Verapamil Hci
How this form is used
What it may be used for
  • Verapamil hydrochloride injection is used for rapid conversion of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia to normal rhythm.
  • Verapamil hydrochloride injection is used for temporary control of a fast ventricular rate in atrial flutter or atrial fibrillation, except with accessory bypass tracts.
Important instructions
  • Verapamil hydrochloride injection is for intravenous use only.
  • It is given as a slow injection over at least two minutes, with continuous heart (ECG) and blood pressure monitoring.
Available strengths 3 strengths
2.5 mg/mL 5 mg/2 mL 10 mg/4 mL
106 FDA-listed product records ⓘ

Tablet

By mouth
How this form is used
What it may be used for
  • Verapamil hydrochloride tablets are used for angina, including vasospastic and unstable angina and chronic stable angina.
  • Verapamil hydrochloride tablets are used with digitalis to control heart rate in chronic atrial flutter or atrial fibrillation.
  • Verapamil hydrochloride tablets are used to prevent repeated episodes of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia.
  • Verapamil hydrochloride tablets are used to treat high blood pressure.
Important instructions
  • Verapamil hydrochloride tablets are individualized by gradual dose adjustment.
  • For angina, the usual schedule for verapamil hydrochloride tablets is three times a day.
Available strengths 5 strengths
40 mg 80 mg 120 mg 180 mg 240 mg
88 FDA-listed product records ⓘ

Extended-release tablet

By mouth
Brands Calan Sr
How this form is used
What it may be used for
  • Verapamil hydrochloride extended-release tablets are used to treat high blood pressure.
Important instructions
  • Verapamil hydrochloride extended-release tablets are taken with food, in the morning.
  • Your prescriber adjusts the dose gradually.
Available strengths 3 strengths
120 mg 180 mg 240 mg
51 FDA-listed product records ⓘ

Extended-release capsule

By mouth
Brands Verelan Pm
How this form is used
What it may be used for
  • Verapamil Hydrochloride Extended-release Capsules (PM) are used to treat high blood pressure.
Important instructions
  • Verapamil Hydrochloride Extended-release Capsules (PM) are taken once daily at bedtime.
  • Swallow the capsule whole, or sprinkle the entire contents onto applesauce.
  • Do not crush or chew the capsule contents.
Available strengths 6 strengths
100 mg 120 mg 180 mg 200 mg 240 mg 300 mg
22 FDA-listed product records ⓘ

Delayed-release capsule

By mouth
Brands Verelan
How this form is used
What it may be used for
  • Verapamil hydrochloride sustained-release capsules are used to treat high blood pressure.
Important instructions
  • Verapamil hydrochloride sustained-release capsules are taken by mouth once daily in the morning.
  • Your prescriber adjusts the dose gradually.
Available strengths 4 strengths
120 mg 180 mg 240 mg 360 mg
6 FDA-listed product records ⓘ

Verapamil on the U.S. market: products, makers and brands

How Verapamil appears in the FDA’s National Drug Code Directory — including its dosage forms, strengths, brand names, manufacturers, and FDA-listed product records. These are directory records, not sales or prescription volume.

41 companies list 135 Verapamil product records with the FDA, mostly as injection, tablet, extended-release tablet; the earliest marketing or approval year on record is 1981. Brand names on the directory include Calan, Calan SR, Covera HS and 4 more; the rest are generics.

6
Dose forms ⓘ
41
Labelers (makers, repackagers, distributors)
2
Brand names
135
FDA-listed product records ⓘ
1981
Earliest FDA record ⓘ

FDA-listed product records by dose form (tablet variants merged) — FDA National Drug Code Directory. Record counts are not sales or prescription volume.

Also listed with the FDA, not a patient dose form: Powder (15) — bulk drug substance sold to compounders/manufacturers and multi-item kits. These aren’t counted in the dose-form total above.

HF Acquisition Co LLC, DBA HealthFirst6%
Bryant Ranch Prepack5%
Medical Purchasing Solutions, LLC5%
NuCare Pharmaceuticals,Inc.5%
Wilshire Pharmaceuticals, Inc.5%
Northwind Health Company, LLC4%
Other makers69%

Share of FDA-listed product records by manufacturer — FDA National Drug Code Directory. Record counts are not sales or prescription volume.

How widely Verapamil is used (Medicaid data)

A general measure of how commonly Verapamil is prescribed, based on Medicaid — one of the largest public drug programs. The figure below is prescriptions filled in Q1–Q4 2025, summed across every form and brand of the drug.

Think of this as a proxy for how widely Verapamil is used, drawn from freely available public data. Medicaid is just one program — these numbers don’t include Medicare, other government coverage, or commercial and cash-pay prescriptions, so real-world use is higher than what’s shown here.

151,669
Medicaid prescriptions filled (Q1–Q4 2025)
$4.7M gross Medicaid reimbursement (before mandatory rebates — net cost is lower)

How commonly is Verapamil prescribed? Of the 1,601 medications we measure, Verapamil ranks #434 by Medicaid prescriptions — more than 73% of them.

Where Verapamil ranks among the drugs we measure · Q1–Q4 2025 · neighbors ±5
Total prescriptions — #434 of 1,601
#429 Glucagon Nasal Powder 154,534 Rx #430 Dextrose 153,560 Rx #431 Omalizumab Injection 153,398 Rx #432 Hyoscyamine 152,143 Rx #433 Nirmatrelvir and Riton... 151,858 Rx #434 Verapamil 151,669 Rx #435 Secukinumab Injection 149,840 Rx #436 Magnesium Sulfate 148,724 Rx #437 Cannabidiol 148,283 Rx #438 Ketorolac Ophthalmic 148,176 Rx #439 Famotidine Injection 146,638 Rx

Utilization by Verapamil product

Pick a product to see its own Medicaid numbers. Each chip is one clinical product — a specific strength & dosage form as defined by RxNorm — with brand-name and generic versions combined.

The 120 mg extended release oral tablet is the most-dispensed Verapamil product — about 26% of these Medicaid prescriptions.

verapamil hydrochloride 120 MG Extended Release Oral Tablet Most dispensed

39,665 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 26% of Verapamil prescriptions shown $757,449 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $19 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 2 of 41 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 897659

verapamil hydrochloride 40 MG Oral Tablet

19,717 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 13% of Verapamil prescriptions shown $332,452 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $17 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 2 of 9 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 897722

verapamil hydrochloride 240 MG Extended Release Oral Tablet

17,746 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 12% of Verapamil prescriptions shown $278,887 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $16 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 2 of 66 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 897649

verapamil hydrochloride 80 MG Oral Tablet

16,482 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 11% of Verapamil prescriptions shown $200,034 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $12 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 3 of 20 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 897683

verapamil hydrochloride 120 MG Oral Tablet

14,020 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 9% of Verapamil prescriptions shown $178,091 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $13 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 3 of 31 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 897666

verapamil hydrochloride 180 MG Extended Release Oral Tablet

11,700 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 8% of Verapamil prescriptions shown $207,848 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $18 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 2 of 50 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 897640

24 HR verapamil hydrochloride 120 MG Extended Release Oral Capsule

9,936 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 7% of Verapamil prescriptions shown $533,470 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $54 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 3 of 8 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 897612

24 HR verapamil hydrochloride 240 MG Extended Release Oral Capsule

9,242 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 6% of Verapamil prescriptions shown $554,319 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $60 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 3 of 4 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 897624

24 HR verapamil hydrochloride 180 MG Extended Release Oral Capsule

6,484 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 4% of Verapamil prescriptions shown $397,398 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $61 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 3 of 3 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 897618

24 HR verapamil hydrochloride 360 MG Extended Release Oral Capsule

3,897 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 3% of Verapamil prescriptions shown $811,522 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $208 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 2 of 5 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 897630

2 ML verapamil hydrochloride 2.5 MG/ML Injection

2,135 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 1% of Verapamil prescriptions shown $267,428 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $125 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 11 of 74 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 1665057

24 HR verapamil hydrochloride 100 MG Extended Release Oral Capsule

316 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) <1% of Verapamil prescriptions shown $75,252 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $238 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 1 of 7 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 897584

24 HR verapamil hydrochloride 300 MG Extended Release Oral Capsule

295 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) <1% of Verapamil prescriptions shown $140,006 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $475 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 1 of 8 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 897596

24 HR verapamil hydrochloride 200 MG Extended Release Oral Capsule

34 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) <1% of Verapamil prescriptions shown $12,397 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $365 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 1 of 6 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 897590

Shares are of the Medicaid prescriptions shown here. Product grouping follows RxNorm (the National Library of Medicine’s drug terminology), so “one product” means one strength & dosage form regardless of manufacturer. Dollar figures are gross Medicaid reimbursement before mandatory rebates — rebates (often large, especially for brand-name drugs) are confidential, so actual net cost to Medicaid is lower than shown.

Source: Medicaid State Drug Utilization Data (CMS), aggregated by generic ingredient — summed across every NDC (all brands, strengths, salt forms and dosage forms) of Verapamil, and across all states and both fee-for-service and managed-care claims. A general popularity signal; it excludes Medicare, commercial insurance and cash prescriptions, so it is not total U.S. use. Based on the 39 of 332 listed Verapamil NDCs with Medicaid activity.

Compare Verapamil products

A representative set of FDA-listed product records for Verapamil — across manufacturers, strengths, and dosage forms, grouped by form with each product’s manufacturer and how the FDA approved it. The same medicine may be made and packaged by different companies, so a single drug can have many directory entries. (It’s also why a refill can look different — a new shape, color, or box — even though it contains the same medication.)

Showing 106 of 135 products — FDA National Drug Code Directory. See every product, package size and price: browse all 135 Verapamil NDCs →

Verapamil recall history

A recall is when a specific batch of a medicine is pulled from the market — usually a manufacturing issue, not a problem with the drug itself. Class I is most serious, Class III least.

The FDA’s enforcement reports list one Verapamil recall since July 2021, covering 2 product listings. It is still ongoing. A recall names specific lots from one company, so check the lot number on your own bottle rather than assuming every product is affected; your pharmacist can check whether your supply came from an affected lot.

Ongoing Class III Jul 2, 2024 · Zydus Pharmaceuticals (USA) Inc
Cross contamination with other products.
  • Verapamil Hydrochloride Injection, USP 10 mg/4 mL (2.5 mg/mL), 5 x 4 mL Single-Dose Vial per carton, Rx Only, Manufactured by: Zydus Lifesciences Ltd. Vadodara, India, Distributed by: Zydus Pharmaceu… Lots: Lot L300269, Exp Date 07/31/2025 FDA record D-0593-2024 →
  • Verapamil Hydrochloride Injection, USP 5 mg / 2mL(2.5 mg/mL), packaged as (a) 25x2 mL Single-Dose Vial per carton, Vial NDC: 70710-1643-1; Carton NDC 70710-1643-7; (b) 5x2 mL Single-Dose Vial per car… Lots: Lot# (a) Lots L300255, L300262, Exp Date 07/31/2025; (b)L300263, Exp Date 08/31/2025 FDA record D-0592-2024 →

Source: FDA enforcement (recall) reports, via openFDA; our copy was last updated Sep 24, 2026.

RxNorm Concept Web — From Ingredient to Every Form and Strength

This page starts with one ingredient concept (IN). The branches below show its dose-form concepts (SCDF), then the available clinical drug and strength concepts (SCD). Combination products remain separate concepts with their own pages.

Ingredient (IN) Verapamil RxCUI 11170 7 dose forms · 20 strengths
  4. Dose form (SCDF) Oral Capsule RxCUI 393163 In current FDA listings
    Clinical drug / strength (SCD) hydrochloride 180 MG RxCUI 898340
  5. Dose form (SCDF) Oral Solution RxCUI 379252 No current FDA listing
    Clinical drug / strength (SCD) hydrochloride 8 MG/ML RxCUI 901450

Look up RxCUI 11170 in the RxCUI Atlas →

RxNorm is the U.S. National Library of Medicine’s normalized drug vocabulary. Its concept hierarchy can include forms that are not currently marketed; the status on each branch compares that concept with current FDA listings. RxCUIs identify vocabulary concepts, not individual packages or manufacturers.

💵 What Verapamil costs pharmacies (NADAC benchmark)

The national average invoice price pharmacies pay for the drug itself, from CMS's NADAC survey (data as of Sep 30, 2026). This is a supply-cost benchmark — not a retail price and not what you'd pay at the counter.

FormStrengthPharmacy acquisition benchmark
Tablet · Oral 120 mg $0.089 per tablet NDC details & price history
Tablet · Oral 80 mg $0.073 per tablet NDC details & price history
Tablet · Oral 40 mg $0.113 per tablet NDC details & price history
Capsule, Extended Release · Oral 120 mg $2.75 per capsule NDC details & price history
Capsule, Extended Release · Oral 240 mg $3.15 per capsule NDC details & price history
Capsule, Extended Release · Oral 180 mg $2.09 per capsule NDC details & price history
Capsule, Extended Release · Oral 100 mg $4.08 per capsule NDC details & price history
Capsule, Extended Release · Oral 300 mg $7.92 per capsule NDC details & price history
Capsule, Extended Release · Oral 200 mg $5.64 per capsule NDC details & price history
Why show this? Your out-of-pocket cost depends on insurance, pharmacy markup, and discounts — but the acquisition benchmark tells you whether the medication itself is inexpensive or costly, which strengths cost more per dose, and whether a cash-price quote is in a reasonable range. Each row links to the NDC-level record with its full price history.

Source: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC), a survey of retail pharmacy invoice prices. Benchmarks shown are the range across package sizes of a representative product for each form and strength — other manufacturers' products may differ.

Verapamil brand names

Verapamil is sold under 7 brand names in the FDA directory — Calan, Calan SR, Covera HS, Verelan and others. A brand and its generic contain the same active ingredient; the brand name belongs to one company's product.

Calan Calan SR Covera HS Verelan Verelan PM Isoptin Verapamil Hci

Who makes Verapamil: manufacturers and labelers

41 companies list Verapamil products with the FDA. By number of product records, the largest are HF Acquisition Co LLC, DBA HealthFirst, Bryant Ranch Prepack, Medical Purchasing Solutions, LLC. Labelers include manufacturers and repackagers; the product in your bottle depends on which one your pharmacy stocks.

HF Acquisition Co LLC, DBA HealthFirst 8 Bryant Ranch Prepack 7 Medical Purchasing Solutions, LLC 7 NuCare Pharmaceuticals,Inc. 7 Wilshire Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 7 Northwind Health Company, LLC 6 Zydus Pharmaceuticals (USA) Inc. 6 A-S Medication Solutions 5 Heritage Pharmaceuticals Inc. d/b/a Avet Pharmaceuticals Inc. 5 Zydus Lifesciences Limited 5 Chartwell RX, LLC 4 Preferred Pharmaceuticals Inc. 4 Proficient Rx LP 4 Remedyrepack Inc. 4 Actavis Pharma, Inc. 3 AvKARE 3 Cadila Pharmaceuticals Limited 3 Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc., USA 3 Golden State Medical Supply, Inc. 3 Henry Schein, Inc. 3 Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc. 3 Nivagen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 3 Somerset Therapeutics, LLC 3 Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC 2

…and 17 more on the FDA NDC directory.

Verapamil drug class (RxNorm)

Verapamil belongs to the Calcium Channel Blocker class.

Pharmacologic class Calcium Channel Blocker
Drug family (ATC) Phenylalkylamine derivatives, ACE inhibitors and calcium channel blockers
How it works Calcium Channel Antagonists, Cytochrome P450 3A4 Inhibitors, P-Glycoprotein Inhibitors, Cytochrome P450 3A Inhibitors

Classified by RxNorm RxClass — the U.S. National Library of Medicine's standardized drug-classification service (Established Pharmacologic Class from the FDA, the ATC drug family from the WHO, and mechanism of action). Reference only, not medical advice.

Sources for this Verapamil page

Core label, product, RxNorm, safety, and utilization data on this page come from the sources identified below. AI-written, editorial, and licensed sections are labeled separately.

📄
FDA-filed drug labels (SPL) Uses, dosing, warnings & side effects from SPL records retrieved through openFDA; the linked representative set can be verified on DailyMed. ✓ Linked label effective Nov 27, 2024
🏭
Forms, brands & labelersAggregated from ingredient-matched FDA National Drug Code Directory product records for Verapamil.
📈
Real-world reportsThe FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), served through openFDA.
🚨
Recalls & shortagesopenFDA drug-enforcement reports and the FDA drug-shortage database.
🧾 Clinical label set — FDA-filed SPL labels retained for Verapamil after exact ingredient or ingredient-combination matching and applicable route/form matching
Clinical labels in scope
67
Finished products in the current FDA directory
135
Companies listing them (makers, repackagers, distributors)
41
FDA labeler codes behind them ⓘ
46
Linked representative label ⓘ
Wilshire Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Linked label effective
Nov 27, 2024
Composite sections available
24
Linked SPL Set ID
5f665d08-e1e4-422a-88c2-d8834abf9e1a
Linked SPL Document ID
27ea8c5d-0f1f-0e1c-e063-6294a90a44e5
Open the linked representative label on DailyMed ↗

How this page is built

HelloPharmacist combines public FDA and NLM records and does not author the underlying clinical facts. The plain-language sections are written with AI from the FDA-approved label text and reviewed by our pharmacy team before publication. Wilshire Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is the representative DailyMed label linked for verification and dates. This is general education, not medical advice: always talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your own medicines. How we build and review drug pages →