Drug interactions
Calcium + Verapamil
Severity: Moderate
Calcium and Verapamil: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Intravenous calcium can reverse the negative inotropic, chronotropic and hypotensive effects of verapamil, and is used as an antidote in overdose. With oral calcium supplements the effect is usually small, but reduced antihypertensive or antiarrhythmic response has been reported, mainly with parenteral calcium or high doses.
What this interaction means in plain words
Calcium and Verapamil can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Calcium belongs to Gastrointestinal Tract; Verapamil belongs to Cardiovascular.
Why it happens
Increased extracellular calcium overcomes L-type calcium channel blockade by verapamil (pharmacodynamic antagonism).
What to do
Avoid giving intravenous calcium to patients on verapamil unless treating toxicity; monitor blood pressure and heart rate if high-dose calcium is needed. Check serum calcium if verapamil response seems diminished.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
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Other interactions of Calcium
- Calcium + Ceftriaxone Contraindicated
- Acalabrutinib + Calcium Moderate
- Alendronate + Calcium Moderate
- Atazanavir + Calcium Moderate
- Baloxavir marboxil + Calcium Moderate
- Bendroflumethiazide + Calcium Moderate
Other interactions of Verapamil
- Dofetilide + Verapamil Contraindicated
- Flibanserin + Verapamil Contraindicated
- Lomitapide + Verapamil Contraindicated
- Lonafarnib + Verapamil Contraindicated
- Pimozide + Verapamil Contraindicated
- Acebutolol + Verapamil Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Calcium with Verapamil?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Calcium and Verapamil can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Intravenous calcium can reverse the negative inotropic, chronotropic and hypotensive effects of verapamil, and is used as an antidote in overdose. With oral calcium supplements the effect is usually small, but reduced antihypertensive or antiarrhythmic response has been reported, mainly with parenteral calcium or high doses.
How serious is the interaction between Calcium and Verapamil?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Avoid giving intravenous calcium to patients on verapamil unless treating toxicity; monitor blood pressure and heart rate if high-dose calcium is needed. Check serum calcium if verapamil response seems diminished.
What other medicines interact with Calcium?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Calcium with, for example, Ceftriaxone, Acalabrutinib, Alendronate. The full list is on the Calcium page.
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