Papaverine

Papaverine is a prescription medication used to treat the symptoms of Arterial Spasm. 

• Papaverine is available under the following different brand names: ParaTime SR

Common side effects of Papaverine include:

• Nausea,
• Upset stomach,
• Loss of appetite,
• Constipation,
• Diarrhea,
• General ill feelings,
• Headache,
• Drowsiness,
• Dizziness,
• Spinning sensation,
• Flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling),
• Skin rash,
• Increased sweating,
• Tiredness, and
• Lack of energy

Serious side effects of Papaverine include:

• Hives,
• Difficulty breathing,
• Swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat,
• Upper stomach pain,
• Loss of appetite,
• Dark urine,
• Clay-colored stools,
• Yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice),
• Skin rash,
• Bruising,
• Severe tingling,
• Numbness,
• Pain,
• Muscle weakness,
• Severe headache,
• Blurred vision,
• Fast heart rate,
• Pounding in the neck or ears,
• Anxiety,
• Shortness of breath,
• Extreme drowsiness,
• Vision changes, and
• Pain, swelling, or redness where the medicine was injected

Rare side effects of Papaverine include:

• none 

Seek medical care or call 911 at once if you have the following serious side effects:

• Severe headache, confusion, slurred speech, arm or leg weakness, trouble walking, loss of coordination, feeling unsteady, very stiff muscles, high fever, profuse sweating, or tremors;
• Serious eye symptoms such as sudden vision loss, blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain or swelling, or seeing halos around lights;
• Serious heart symptoms include fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeats; fluttering in the chest; shortness of breath; sudden dizziness, lightheadedness, or passing out.

This is not a complete list of side effects and other serious side effects or health problems that may occur because of the use of this drug. Call your doctor for medical advice about serious side effects or adverse reactions. You may report side effects or health problems to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Adult dosage

Injectable solution

• 30 mg/ml

Arterial Spasm

• Sustained release oral formulation: 150 mg orally every 8-12hours OR 300 mg orally every 12 hours
• Injection solution: 30-65 mg (up to 120 mg if needed) Intravenous/Intramuscular; may repeat every 3 hours
• Cardiac extrasystoles: Administer 2 doses 10 minutes apart
• Admin Intravenous by slow push (1-2 minutes)

Dosage Considerations – Should be Given as Follows: 

• See “Dosages”

If your medical doctor is using this medicine to treat your pain, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor, health care provider, or pharmacist first.

• Papaverine has severe interactions with no other drugs.
• Papaverine has serious interactions with the following drugs
  • calcium/magnesium/potassium/sodium oxybates
  • lofexidine
  • sodium oxybate
• Papaverine has moderate interactions with at least 142 other drugs.
• Papaverine has minor interactions with the following drugs
  • eucalyptus
  • sage

This information does not contain all possible interactions or adverse effects. Visit the RxList Drug Interaction Checker for any drug interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist about all your products. Keep a list of all your medications with you and share this information with your doctor and pharmacist. Check with your healthcare professional or doctor for additional medical advice, or if you have health questions or concerns.

Contraindications

• Hypersensitivity
• Complete AV block

Effects of drug abuse

• None

Short-Term Effects

• See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Papaverine?”

Long-Term Effects

• See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Papaverine?”

Cautions

• Rapid injection may cause fatal apnea
• Use caution in glaucoma, cardiac conduction disorder
• Intracavernosal injection may lead to priapism
• Discontinue use if GI symptoms, eosinophilia, jaundice, or abnormal liver function tests
• Chronic use may lead to dependence due to the CNS depressant effect
• Discontinue if signs or symptoms of hepatic hypersensitivity

Pregnancy and Lactation

• Use with caution if the benefits outweigh the risks during pregnancy.
• Lactation
  • Unknown; use caution