Go back

Calan

If you suffer from chronic migraines, it might be worth asking your doctor about Calan. Calan works to treat migraines by blocking calcium channels and suppressing your body’s natural serotonin levels. This, in turn, restrains the constriction of blood vessels in your head that actively reduce your level of pain tolerance — meaning the muscles are relaxed instead of tensed, so you feel less pain.

While doctors may prescribe Calan to prevent migraines, they mainly use it as a treatment for high blood pressure, chest pain, and heart disorders. It is typically administered via oral film-coated tablets, but in some cases, it can be administered intravenously under a doctor’s supervision.
While our team at Nurx™ does not carry Calan, we can provide other generic antihypertensive medications to treat migraines.

FAQ

  • How Does Calan Work?

    Calan is an antihypertensive medicine that treats heart conditions by acting as a muscle relaxer for your heart and blood vessels. Mainly, it helps prevent coronary artery spasms and reduce oxygen utilization.

    However, by relaxing vital muscles within the head, it also works to counteract tension headaches and increase pain tolerance in regard to migraines.

  • Is Calan Easy to Get?

    Like many medications of this nature, Calan is only available by prescription from a licensed medical provider. Luckily, we make finding the right medication easy for you here at Nurx. We have a team of licensed providers who will help you find the right treatment plan for your migraines. Our physicians are available to you remotely, so they can help you get the prescription you need from the comfort of your own home.

    While we do not directly offer Calan, we do have many similar options of generic antihypertensive medications to treat migraines. Our Headache and Migraine Treatment plan is very affordable at only $60 per year for an online consultation, though this fee isn't covered by insurance. If you have insurance, your medication will be charged through them, just like when you order through your local pharmacy. No insurance? No problem! Our migraine medications typically only cost between $25 and $70 per month, depending on your prescription.

  • Are There Any Precautions That I Should Take When Using Calan?

    As with any new medication, be sure to check with your healthcare provider if you have any concerns about how Calan may affect you. Calan may not be the right choice for you if you have ever had congestive heart failure, a heart rhythm disorder, or any heart condition that causes your heart to race or have irregular heartbeats. There may also be better choices if you are currently receiving an intravenous beta-blocker (including beta-blockers such as Atenolol, Propranolol, and Metoprolol).

    Make sure to tell your doctor if you have ever had kidney disease, liver disease, or a nerve-muscle disorder (including conditions such as myasthenia gravis and muscular dystrophy) so that they can make sure Calan is safe for you.

  • What Are the Possible Side Effects of Taking Calan?

    Like most medications, Calan comes with the risk of side effects, though it's possible that they may not occur for you. One of the most common side effects is sinus bradycardia, otherwise known as a slowing of the heartbeat, in which the heart still beats regularly but at a reduced pace. Other side effects include fluid buildup in the lungs, known as pulmonary edema, severely low blood pressure, and second-degree atrioventricular block. Talk to your doctor if you think you may have any of these side effects.

    Calan may also cause other more serious side effects that could require medical attention, though they are much less common. Be sure to contact your healthcare provider immediately if you notice any of the following:

    Blue lips and fingertips.

    Blurry vision.

    Burning.

    Itching.

    Numbness.

    Tingling.

    Chest pain.

    Confusion.

    Coughing.

    Difficulty breathing.

    Wheezing.

    Dizziness or lightheadedness.

    Increased sweating.

    Fainting.

    Pale skin.

    Shortness of breath.

    Sore throat.

    Swelling in legs and ankles.

    Unusual weakness and fatigue.

    You should also contact your doctor immediately if you experience chills, cold sweats, feelings of warmth, or unusual redness anywhere on your upper body, though these side effects are even rarer.

    There are also a few common side effects, like constipation and headaches, that are not cause for concern and will typically lessen or even go away entirely once your body adjusts to the new medication. Less commonly, patients have experienced:

    Acid reflux.

    Stomachache.

    Burping.

    Heartburn.

    Indigestion.

    Joint and muscle stiffness and pain.

    Nausea.

    Rash.

    Insomnia.

    Abnormal drowsiness.

    Swollen joints.

    Feelings of tiredness or sluggishness.

    These also do not require immediate medical attention, but if they are continual and bothersome, your doctor should be able to answer any questions and offer potential solutions.

  • Does Calan Interact Negatively With Other Medications?

    Because many medications can raise or lower the levels of verapamil in your bloodstream, these types of medications have the potential to drastically change the effectiveness of Calan or cause further side effects. It is crucial that you tell your doctor about any current medications you are taking, especially:

    Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

    Other heart or blood pressure medicines.

    Antibiotics.

    Antifungals.

    Antivirals (including treatment for hepatitis and HIV/AIDS).

    Beta-blockers.

    Cholesterol medications.

    Drugs to treat a prostate disorder.

    Seizure medicine.

    Tuberculosis medicine.

    It is important to note that this is by no means a comprehensive list. Be sure to provide an accurate list of all of your current and recent medications to your healthcare provider when you are prescribed Calan. This includes vitamins, over-the-counter remedies, and herbal products — not just other prescription medications.

  • How Do I Get a Prescription for Calan Through Nurx?

    All of our new patients at Nurx take an assessment to provide their medication history and discuss any current conditions. If you know that a specific name brand worked well for you in the past, such as Calan, our physicians may be able to prescribe it to you. However, it is important to note that while our physicians can prescribe Calan, Nurx does not carry this specific medication. Unfortunately, this means that we cannot ship it to you, so you would need to get the prescription filled at your local pharmacy.

    If you do not require a specific or brand name medication, our physicians may opt to prescribe you a similar generic antihypertensive medication that we do carry so that we can ship it directly to your door.

  • Can I Buy Calan Online Through Nurx?

    Unfortunately, we do not carry Calan specifically. However, we do offer other similar antihypertensive medications. Once you complete the online assessment and consult with one of our doctors, they'll be able to come up with an appropriate treatment plan for you and prescribe you with a similar medication to Calan or an approach to managing migraines that works better for you. From there, you'll get your medication shipped right to your door.

  • How Long Would it Take to Deliver Calan if I Bought it Online?

    Our medications typically take between three and five business days to reach you after your prescription is filled at our pharmacy. Don't worry — there's no extra delivery fee. We offer free priority shipping through USPS, so you'll get your medication on time and at no additional cost to you.

  • Is There a Generic Version of Calan?

    Yes! The generic version of Calan is called Verapamil, which you can also take orally. In some cases, doctors can inject it to quickly restore a rapid heartbeat to normal (typically only for patients with heart disorders).

  • Who Makes Calan?

    Calan is manufactured by Pfizer Inc., a pharmaceutical corporation based in New York City.

  • Does Calan Cause Weight Gain?

    No, not typically. If you experience rapid weight gain or swelling in your extremities, contact your healthcare provider right away.

  • Does Calan Cause Constipation?

    It can. Constipation is a more common side effect of Calan, but it can also cause other digestive issues such as nausea, pain, and gas. Talk to your healthcare provider to learn how to remedy this side effect.

  • Can Calan Cause Hair Loss?

    In rare cases, the FDA reports that some individuals have experienced hair loss when taking Verapamil. However, these people are generally middle-aged women who are within the first six months of taking the drug, are also taking Prednisone, and have breast cancer.

  • Can Calan Cause Erectile Dysfunction?

    While many medications intended to treat high blood pressure can result in erectile dysfunction (ED), it is uncommon for calcium channel blockers like Calan to cause this issue.

  • How Does Nurx Work?

    Nurx is a telehealth platform offering easy online access to doctors and seamless delivery of medications. No more time-consuming trips to the clinic and no more frantic pharmacy runs. We put you in control of your own health, empowering you to get the care you need, when you need it. From diagnosis to delivery of prescriptions, we make every part of getting healthy and staying healthy, better.For more information and to sign up, visit www.nurx.com and follow us @nurxapp on Twitter and Instagram.

Back to top