Medication isn't always specialized; some medications for high blood pressure, for example, could also be beneficial to the heart. Calan (generic name: verapamil hydrochloride) is such a drug. As a standalone drug its purpose is to treat arrythmia (irregular heartbeats), chest pain (angina) and high blood pressure (hypertension).

Calan is taken regularly in order to prevent the onset of heart or blood pressure symptoms, and to lower the blood pressure in order to prevent complications in the cardiovascular system. It is classified as a calcium channel blocker, which dilates the blood vessels and relieves pressure on the muscles around them, making it easier for the heart to pump blood, and for the blood to circulate throughout the body. It also works by slowing the electrical conduction inside the heart. This could normalize the rhythm of the heart, or slow the heart rate.

This medicine cannot be used as an emergency remedy. You may take Calan regularly to prevent chest pains, but once the chest pains have begun acting up, taking Calan would not help. Even if you no longer experience heart or blood pressure problems, you must continue taking Calan until the end of the period recommended on the label or by your doctor. Make sure to keep this medicine out of the reach of small children, as it has not yet been tested for safe use on children, and may cause a child to experience symptoms of overdose if accidentally ingested.

Doctors may decide to prescribe Calan for other conditions - headaches and cardiomyopathy among them. Cardiomyopathy, which literally means "heart muscle disease," is a serious condition in which the muscles of the heart stop working. There are many kinds of cardiomyopathies, extrinsic and intrinsic, and verapamil hydrocholoride may be used to treat some of them. Manic depression and panic attacks may also be treated with verapamil-based medicines, although this is done very rarely.

It may be several weeks before the effectiveness of Calan therapy becomes evident. Blood pressure takes time to drop, but if blood pressure-lowering medicine is taken regularly, the gradual drop is at least assured. Of course, the effectiveness of the drug will also depend on one's lifestyle. If you complement medication with a fair amount of exercise, healthy dieting, and actively reducing your stress factors, the treatment stands a significantly higher chance of being successful. If you are overweight, your doctor may recommend that you lose weight as well, and to cut down on foods that are high on fat and sodium.

There are some precautions that one must keep in mind before taking Calan. One of them is that it may cause stomach upset. Diarrhea is also a common side effect. If you are suffering from any stomach problems, make sure to tell your doctor before starting on a Calan therapy.

Another precaution is that it is possible to overdose on this drug. Moreover, an overdose is likely to result in hypotension, or extremely low blood pressure. When this happens, seek emergency medical treatment. The stomach may need to be emptied through induced vomiting, high enemas, removal of the contents of the stomach through endoscopy, and intestinal lavage.