Papaverine

Papaverine is a prescription medication used to treat muscle spasms associated with heart attacks, blood clots in the lungs, and various gastrointestinal conditions.

Papaverine belongs to a group of drugs called antispasmodics. These work to treat blood vessel muscle spasms by relaxing the small muscles within the walls of blood vessels.

This medication is available in an injectable form to be given directly into a vein or muscle by a healthcare professional and is typically given every 3 hours.

Common side effects of papaverine include general discomfort, nausea, and loss of appetite.

Papaverine can also cause dizziness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how papaverine affects you.

Papaverine is a prescription medication used to treat muscle spasms associated with heart attacks, blood clots in the lungs, and various gastrointestinal conditions.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Papaverine may be found in some form under the following brand names:

• Papacon

• Para-Time S. R.

• Pavabid Plateau

• Pavacot

• Pavagen

Serious side effects have been reported with papaverine. See the “Papaverine Precautions” section.

Common side effects of papaverine include the following:

• general discomfort
• nausea
• abdominal discomfort
• anorexia
• constipation
• diarrhea
• skin rash
• vertigo
• headache
• flushing of the face
• sweating
• increase in heart rate

This is not a complete list of papaverine side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• Adrenalin (epinephrine)
• Aspirin Low Strength (aspirin)
• Benadryl (diphenhydramine)
• Crestor (rosuvastatin)
• Multi-Vitamins
• Dulcolax (bisacodyl)
• Lipitor (atorvastatin)
• Paracetamol (acetaminophen)
• Prilosec (omeprazole)
• Seroquel (quetiapine)
• Singulair (montelukast)
• Synthroid (levothyroxine)
• Viagra (sildenafil)
• Vicodin (acetaminophen/hydrocodone)
• Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin)
• Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
• Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol)
• Vitamin K1 (phytonadione)
• Zyrtec (cetirizine)

This is not a complete list of papaverine drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Serious side effects have been reported with papaverine including the following:

• hepatitis. While hepatitis has been reported rarely, it has progressed to cirrhosis. Consult your physician if you experience fatigue, nausea, poor appetite, abdominal pain, and/or yellow skin or eyes (jaundice).
• drug abuse. Drug abuse has been reported with drugs similar to papaverine. Consult with your physician if you feel like you might be abusing papaverine or have the desire to abuse papaverine.

Do not take Papaverine if you:

• are allergic to papaverine or to any of its ingredients
• have heart block
• are trying to treat impotence with papaverine

Papaverine can also cause dizziness. Do not drive or operate heave machinery until you know how papaverine affects you.

Medications can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of papaverine, there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving this medication.

Before taking papaverine, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Especially tell your doctor if you:

• are allergic to papaverine or to any of its ingredients
• have heart block
• have liver disease
• have glaucoma
• are trying to treat impotence with papaverine
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Papaverine falls into category C. No problems were observed in rats when papaverine was administered during pregnancy. It is not known whether papaverine can cause harm when administered to a pregnant woman or can affect reproduction. Papaverine should be given to a pregnant woman only if clearly needed.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

It is not known if papaverine crosses into human milk. Because many medications can cross into human milk and because of the possibility for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants with use of this medication, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or stop the use of this medication. Your doctor and you will decide if the benefits outweigh the risk of using papaverine.

Use papaverine exactly as prescribed.

This medication is available in an injectable form to be given directly into a muscle or vein by a healthcare professional and is typically given every 3 hours. Papaverine may be administered twice within 10 minutes in the treatment of heart arrhythmias.

This product is to be used by or under the direction of a physician. Papaverine is not recommended for the treatment of impotence by injection into the penis. 

If you miss a dose of papaverine, receive the missed dose as soon as you remember. 

Recieve this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.

The dose your doctor recommends may be based on the following:

• the condition being treated
• other medical conditions you have
• other medications you are taking
• how you respond to this medication
• your weight
• your age

The recommended dose of papaverine to treat muscle spasms associated with heart attacks, blood clots in the lungs, and various gastrointestinal conditions is 30 to 120 mg given directly into a vein or muscle by a healthcare professional every 3 hours, or up to two doses within 10 minutes in the case of heart arrhythmias.

If papaverine is administered by a healthcare provider in a medical setting, it is unlikely that an overdose will occur. However, if overdose is suspected, seek emergency medical attention.