Verapamil Difference Between Sr And Er

I am taking verapamil SR 240mg. A lot of drug plans only offer it as ER. What's the difference?

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REPORT

There is no difference, they are both just abbreviations that denote it as being a time released formulation.

ER= extended release

SR= sustained release

You may also see it denoted with the abbreviations:

XR = extended release and

CR = controlled release.

However, as I said, they all mean the same thing.


Verapamil is a calcium channel blocker used to treat hypertension, angina and other cardiovascular problems.

Common side effects may include: nausea, dizziness, headache and stomach pain.

Read more:

https:/­/­rxchat.com/­wiki/­Verapamil/­

Are there any questions or comments?

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There is a difference between verapamil ER and SR. One is taken once a day and the other is meant to be taken twice a day. That is what the pharmacist told me.

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iF THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN VERAPAMIL ER & SR WHY DO THEY HAVE TWO TYPES THE DOCTOR GAVE MY WIFE ER AND HE
GAVE ME SR

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Although they are meant to be interchangeable, there are ALWAYS slight differences in the generics depending on who is manufacturing them. It's not uncommon for some people to have different side effects or slightly less or more effect with one vs. the other.

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Why is the cost of varapamil hcl er more expensive than varapamil hcl tablet? On my PDP hcl er is tier 2. 45.00 for a 30 day supply while hcl er tablet is 6.00 per 30 day supply on tier 1.

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per my cardiologist this is not true. Every generic brand has differences in potency. This is why many docs will want you to stay on the same generic. When I take the brand name verapamil I only require 180 mg/day but with one generic that is ER, i need 240 mg for the same symptom control. My cardiologist says this is not uncommon.

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cardiologist have 1 years of pharmocology while pharmacists have 4 years. i'd stick with the pharmacist

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ER and SR are just the same thuing with a different mfg., perhaps. NOTHING TO DO WITH ONCE OR TWICE A DAY!

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From Micromedex:
•(sustained-release caplet (Calan(R) SR) or tablet (Isoptin(R) SR)) initial, 180 mg ORALLY once daily in the morning; may titrate dose up to 240 mg ORALLY every 12 hours at weekly intervals based on response 24 hours after dosing [3][4]
•(sustained-release capsule (Verelan(R))) usual dose, 240 mg ORALLY once daily in the morning; may titrate dose up to 480 mg ORALLY once daily in the morning based on response 24 hours after dosing
•(extended-release capsule (Verelan(R) PM)) initial, 200 mg ORALLY once daily at bedtime; may titrate up to 400 mg ORALLY once daily at bedtime [6]
•(extended-release tablet (Covera-HS(R)) initial, 180 mg ORALLY once daily at bedtime; may titrate up to 480 mg ORALLY once daily at bedtime [7]
SR=sustained release tablet dosing is twice daily. XR=extended release tablet or capsule dosing is one a day.
I am a pharmacist in hospitals, Micromedex is one of the to go information databases for medical professionals.
JonCat, please do your research before making medical declarations

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If SR is twice a day and ER is once a day there is difference in drug release profile in both of them in body and there pharmaceutics and elimination will be different so once contact the doctor and go for it

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My cardiologist prescribed APO [NO SUB] Verapamil SR 240mg, dosage ONCE a DAY and it is presently unavailable from the manufacturer until September. I was switched to APO [NO SUB] Verapamil SR 120mg now twice a day but it is now also unavailable until September. With asthma, the heart medication is quite restricted and switches are very few. Two health issues create a severe challenge... APO supplies a much smaller tablet than any other and due to my Oculo-PHARYNGEAL Muscular Dystrophy, I cannot swallow other sizes and brands. They were tried before and I ended up almost choking to death since one got lodged in my throat and would not come up or go down. Any suggestion before I run out of pills in two weeks???

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Call a compounding pharmacy they may be able to.make it in a liquid form or make a dosage that you will be able to swallow

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What is the difference between Verapamil Hcl Er PM and Verapamil Hcl Er

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Verapamil Hcl Sr. CAPS is more expensive than Verapamil Hcl Er TABS

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I had been taking verapamil capsules by Mylan green Sr. My cardiologist wasn't available to renew so my family physician sent in the RX for tablets ER. Same 240. There sure is a difference. My pressure is higher and I'm not feeling good on this so there is some kind of difference.

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Re: JonCat (# 8)

Do some research on the half-life of generic verapamil er and calan sr and you will find why you need larger doses and more often of generic verapamil. Also pharmacies will tell you they are the same because one is much more expensive and they do no want to get stuck with expired calan. Also a pharmacist is more concerned with business and the Dr. at least should be more concerned with his patient. I would trust the Dr. first every time. What I'm saying is from personal experience, these two drugs are just not equivalent in a twenty-four hour period. Even the suppliers don't have much stock of calan because it is more expensive. The FDA has neither the resources nor the authority to force these generic manufacturers to do studies. The difference is not as wide as it used to be, but they are not usually equal. You get what you pay for.

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Re: Verwon (# 1)

Want to be sure they are the same. This month caps has a different color and shape. Just to be sure. Thanks

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Re: Murphy (# 15)

You’re 100 percent right. Not the same at all. The blood concentration level is much more uneven for the er hard tablet and varies much more with the individual. The sr dosage is released much more evenly which keeps your blood level more consistent. My wife had the exact same problem when switched.

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Re: mapuche (# 9)

Doesn’t matter who you are these medications are not equivalent. Just because some book says how to administer a medication does not in any way imply that these are delivering it in the same way. The FDA has little power or money to control generic drugs once they have been approved and the process for approval is not nearly as stringent as it was for the originals. You can quote you medical bible all day long with a doctorate in pharmacy. It means nothing. This is all about money and if you’ve done your research you know that. Too many pharmacists just want people to shut up and take a drug that will not be effective because of the delivery system. They are in business to make money nor get stuck with expired expensive (although effective meds) Any chemist can tell you the delivery and elimination of these two drugs is not equal and many people get sick when switched to the cheaper drug. So get off your high horse and admit the truth.

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Re: Murphy (# 15)
agree . I had the same exact response. The hard tabs er do not work.

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I've been taking ER for yrs. Blue pill. Recently my pharmacy replaced them with SR green pill, saying it's the same thing. Well after about a week, I felt terrible, aches, bad stomach.

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Check around with different pharmacies. My mail order couldn't get my Verapamil 240 SR, so I called several local chain drug stores and finally found one. I have been having that Rx filled by them for the past 5 months and my mail order, Express Scripts, still can't get a supply.

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Re: Victor (# 19)

I agree with you 100%!!!! I've had several issues with brand vs generic!

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Re: Victor (# 19)

Omg, I had the biggest fight with my doctors are especially the insurance drug companies! Specifically, with a blood pressure med brand name VASOTEC vs enalapril (generic). I had been on the brand for years and all was well until the insurance drug companies dictated that it's only covered under generic! At that time I accepted what they said. The new doctors under my plan swore generic was the same as the brand. So I was stuck on the generic Enalapril for several years and my blood pressure began to be uncontrolled! Long story short I started to challenge the insurance drug companies brand vs generic! Just this past 2 years my blood pressure was totally out of control and I started demanding the brand VASOTEC . After charting and taking my blood pressure several times a day, did my doctors realize the brand wasn't working. Of course they wanted to start me on several other bp meds. I allowed them to do, to prove my point! Of course, the other meds made me fill worse and didn't control my bp as well as the brand! Only then was I able to get my doctors to sign off on prescribing my bp med as " dispense as written" Brand only!!! Not sure if all those years on ineffective genetics cause my heart condition of A-Flutter and I had to have a heart ablation in October of 2017!!! The cardiac specialist (I forget the correct title) but had to add an additional bp med to control my blood pressure and I take it Hydralazine 50 mg 3x a day with the Vasotec 20 mg 2x a day! Sorry my comment was so long,but I felt compelled to share. To all keep asking questions and demanding what works for you. Oh lastly, I spoke with my regular pharmacist sharing my worries and difficulties she said by law drug companies are suppose to put the same drug and amount in both brand and generic! However, she said what difference is or could be the compound mixtures that's blended with the generic could be causing issues with me!!! Take care guys

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IS threre a difference in ic verapamil 120mg tablets then Verapamil ER capsules 120mg. ??
Ic tablets worked better to lower BP but was having tightness in chest, shortness of breath. Doc switchedme back to Verapamil SR capsules.

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This is my experience with Verapamil SR.... Watson brand Verapamil SR capsules prevent the daily headaches I've had for as long as I can remember. My mail order pharmacy switched me to the tablets (Glenmark Pharm.) and my headaches immediately returned. Back on the Watson brand capsules and they've stopped. It is obvious to me that the capsules from Watson are far superior for my body.

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Re: Steven (# 7)

Cardiologists have experienced that these “generic drugs” are not anything more than roughly equivalent. Pill professionals are in the business of pills not people and believe whatever there pill bible tells them. They are not diagnosticians and will tell you whatever they want to.

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SR is 5 times more expensive than ER, and comes in capsule form rather than ER in a tablet. Both have the exact same molecular structure. The SR form (due to the capsule form) takes longer to absorb.

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