Should I Panic Filter: Maybe I doubled up, maybe I didn't.
August 26, 2011 8:35 AM Subscribe
YANMD, but you might be a pharmacist: How bad is it if I may have accidentally taken twice my normal daily dose of Verapamil? Do I need to worry?
My morning schedule got all screwed up this morning, and the thought occurred to me that maybe I took my Verapamil twice by accident. I normally take 360mg of Verapamil a day to control my migraines and high blood pressure, taken in 2x180mg SR tablets in the morning. But I may have doubled up this morning, taking it after forgetting that I had already done so 30 minutes prior. So - worst case scenario, 4x180mg SR tablets taken within a hour.
Chances are I did actually only take my usual 2 tablets, as usually when I worry about such things they never really occur, but I just have this nagging feeling...
I can't count my leftover pills because I'm already at work, and I have no idea how many are supposed to be remaining anyway. I feel fine, though...
Do I need to worry? What should I be on the lookout for, if anything? I do know my usual 360mg is a relatively high dose for my weight class (so double is probably bad...), but I've never had a single side effect from the Verapamil -- I consider them my wonder drug as at this dosage they do a good job of controlling my daily headaches.
(I'd really rather not call my doctors for various reasons. I could potentially call a pharmacist at the drugstore, but it seems silly for a what-if scenario that probably didn't happen.)
My morning schedule got all screwed up this morning, and the thought occurred to me that maybe I took my Verapamil twice by accident. I normally take 360mg of Verapamil a day to control my migraines and high blood pressure, taken in 2x180mg SR tablets in the morning. But I may have doubled up this morning, taking it after forgetting that I had already done so 30 minutes prior. So - worst case scenario, 4x180mg SR tablets taken within a hour.
Chances are I did actually only take my usual 2 tablets, as usually when I worry about such things they never really occur, but I just have this nagging feeling...
I can't count my leftover pills because I'm already at work, and I have no idea how many are supposed to be remaining anyway. I feel fine, though...
Do I need to worry? What should I be on the lookout for, if anything? I do know my usual 360mg is a relatively high dose for my weight class (so double is probably bad...), but I've never had a single side effect from the Verapamil -- I consider them my wonder drug as at this dosage they do a good job of controlling my daily headaches.
(I'd really rather not call my doctors for various reasons. I could potentially call a pharmacist at the drugstore, but it seems silly for a what-if scenario that probably didn't happen.)
You don't need to call your doctor, but you should call your pharmacist. Pharmacists are a well-spring of information and part of their job is to address your questions about the drugs that they've dispensed to you.
posted by asnider at 8:39 AM on August 26, 2011
posted by asnider at 8:39 AM on August 26, 2011
Oh hells, it's been over 10 years since I worked in poison control, so i can't remember the amounts, but verapamil was one of the drugs that we were serious about getting people to follow up on, even in small overdoses. Controlled-release preps can glom up in your gut and then break up in one go, giving you a bigger dose at one hit than you'd expect.
Check with your pharmacist.
posted by gaspode at 8:52 AM on August 26, 2011 [2 favorites]
Check with your pharmacist.
posted by gaspode at 8:52 AM on August 26, 2011 [2 favorites]
Pharmacists went to school for many years to answer this very sort of question, yet mostly they spend their time fighting with doctors' offices, drug addicts, insurance companies, and geriatric patients with a giant ziplock bag of assorted pills. Let them put a bit of that training to use and give yours a call.
posted by zachlipton at 8:58 AM on August 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by zachlipton at 8:58 AM on August 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
...but it seems silly for a what-if scenario that probably didn't happen.
Much, much less silly than asking internet strangers for health advice. This sort of thing is exactly what your pharmacist's years of training and professional certification were intended for. Call them.
posted by metaBugs at 9:03 AM on August 26, 2011
Much, much less silly than asking internet strangers for health advice. This sort of thing is exactly what your pharmacist's years of training and professional certification were intended for. Call them.
posted by metaBugs at 9:03 AM on August 26, 2011
Response by poster: Ok, ok... i'll call the pharmacist. Just needed the kick in a butt to do what I knew I should do anyway. Thanks for the concern all.
posted by cgg at 9:19 AM on August 26, 2011
posted by cgg at 9:19 AM on August 26, 2011
Response by poster: And just for the record -- i'll be fine. :) If I feel faint or my heartrate/BP drops, I need to go in to the ER, however. I have no idea why I just didn't call in the first place. Lesson learned - just call the pharmacist already :)
posted by cgg at 9:32 AM on August 26, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by cgg at 9:32 AM on August 26, 2011 [2 favorites]
You might want to consider buying one of these.
I have one because I hate fiddling with tiny capsules in the morning. It's really nice to just pop open that day's container and take the meds. Also keeps me from wondering if I've taken my meds or not.
If you have kids, they also make ones that lock.
You can buy them online or in drug stores/at the pharmacy.
posted by royalsong at 10:10 AM on August 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
I have one because I hate fiddling with tiny capsules in the morning. It's really nice to just pop open that day's container and take the meds. Also keeps me from wondering if I've taken my meds or not.
If you have kids, they also make ones that lock.
You can buy them online or in drug stores/at the pharmacy.
posted by royalsong at 10:10 AM on August 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
Yes, call the pharmacist, or call Poison Control. When my kids were little, I had their number up on a cabinet; I think I only ever called them once but it was worth it!
I second royalsong's suggestion: I fill each day's pills up in my pill organizer every Sunday so I don't forget to take them during the week. I take 4- 6 a day and can't remember otherwise!
I have this seven-day deal with big individual compartments.
posted by misha at 10:32 AM on August 26, 2011
I second royalsong's suggestion: I fill each day's pills up in my pill organizer every Sunday so I don't forget to take them during the week. I take 4- 6 a day and can't remember otherwise!
I have this seven-day deal with big individual compartments.
posted by misha at 10:32 AM on August 26, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
Sillier than asking a bunch of strangers on the internet most of whom you know have neither the experience nor expertise to give you a good answer?
Call your pharmacist. Now. Go.
posted by griphus at 8:37 AM on August 26, 2011 [1 favorite]