Alternatives to verapamil
FDA shortage status is active for verapamil; 7 same-class SPL records are listed below for registry comparison only.
Brand: Calan, Verelan
verapamil class peers while FDA lists an active shortage
verapamil (Calan, Verelan) is on an FDA shortage listing while 7 other Calcium Channel Blocker SPL records remain in this registry peer set (class inventory 8). Labeled indication field for verapamil: Verapamil is used to treat chest pain called angina.
Top FAERS reaction fields for verapamil total 2,821 reports across 10 reactions, set beside amlodipine, diltiazem, felodipine. Counts are exposure-weighted submissions, not per-patient risk.
About verapamil
Verapamil is a drug that helps to lower blood pressure and treat chest pain (angina) and irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias). It works by relaxing blood vessels and slowing down the heart rate.
Used for: Verapamil is used to treat chest pain called angina. This includes angina that happens when you are resting or during normal activity. It is also used to control your heart rate if you have a fast or irregular heartbeat, such as atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter. Verapamil also treats high blood pressure.
7 Calcium Channel Blocker peers (wide set)
amlodipine
RxNorvasc
This medicine treats high blood pressure (hypertension). Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of strokes and heart attacks. Amlodipine also treats chest pain (angina) caused by coronary artery disease, including chronic stable angina and vasospastic angina.
diltiazem
RxCardizem, Tiazac
Diltiazem is used to treat high blood pressure. It can be used alone or with other blood pressure medicines. Diltiazem also helps manage chronic stable angina (chest pain) and angina caused by spasms in the heart's blood vessels.
felodipine
RxPlendil
Felodipine treats high blood pressure (hypertension). Lowering your blood pressure helps prevent strokes and heart attacks. It's important to also manage other risk factors like cholesterol, diabetes, and smoking. You may need more than one medicine to control your blood pressure.
isradipine
RxDynaCirc
Isradipine capsules are used to treat high blood pressure. You can take it alone or with a thiazide diuretic (water pill). It may take 2 to 4 weeks to see the full effect.
nicardipine
RxCardene
Nicardipine treats chronic stable angina, which is chest pain that happens when you exert yourself. It can be used alone or with beta-blockers to manage this condition. Nicardipine also treats high blood pressure, and it can be used alone or with other blood pressure medications.
nifedipine
RxProcardia, Adalat
This medicine treats chest pain (angina) caused by tight blood vessels. It also treats high blood pressure. Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of strokes and heart attacks.
nisoldipine
RxSular
Nisoldipine extended-release tablets are used to treat high blood pressure. You can take them alone or with other blood pressure medicines. Lowering your blood pressure can reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke.
verapamil vs amlodipine & diltiazem · FAERS reaction fields
FAERS top-reaction field "Nausea" shows the widest count spread between verapamil and amlodipine, diltiazem, felodipine in this extract (13,084-report gap on that field). Counts are exposure-weighted submissions, not prevalence rates.
| Side Effect | verapamil | amlodipine | diltiazem | felodipine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dyspnoea | 356 | 13,218 | 3,202 | 952 |
| Nausea | 341 | 13,425 | 2,372 | 846 |
| Drug Interaction | 316 | - | - | - |
| Dizziness | 286 | 10,671 | 2,091 | 946 |
| Hypotension | 280 | 8,369 | 1,494 | - |
| Fatigue | 271 | 15,697 | 2,638 | 1,051 |
| Diarrhoea | 256 | 14,039 | 2,045 | 846 |
| Cough | 239 | 6,410 | - | - |
"-" means no reports for that reaction. Report counts reflect total FAERS submissions, not prevalence rates.
verapamil shortage vs Calcium Channel Blocker peer index
Shortage status
FDA shortage listing is active for verapamil (status: To Be Discontinued). Peer rows remain a registry index, not a switch guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does FDA list a shortage for verapamil while peers remain indexed? ▼
Registry note: Shortage listings and peer indexes are for registry orientation only. This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Do not stop or change your medication without talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
Field note for verapamil: see also the generic vs brand label guide when reading Calan SPL strings.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.