Papaverine

For the relief of cerebral and peripheral ischemia associated with arterial spasm and myocardial ischemia complicated by arrhythmias.

No information provided.

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

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.

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.

You should not receive papaverine if you are allergic to it, or if you have:

• a serious heart condition such as "AV block."

If possible before you receive papaverine, tell your doctor if you have:

• heart disease;

• high blood pressure;

• glaucoma; or

• liver disease.

It is not known whether papaverine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medicine.

It is not known whether papaverine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

In an emergency situation it may not be possible to tell your caregivers if you are pregnant or breast feeding. Make sure any doctor caring for your pregnancy or your baby knows you have received this medicine.

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

• upper stomach pain, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);

• skin rash, bruising, severe tingling, numbness, pain, muscle weakness;

• severe headache, blurred vision, fast heart rate, pounding in your neck or ears, anxiety, shortness of breath;

• extreme drowsiness;

• vision changes; or

• pain, swelling, or redness where the medicine was injected.

Common side effects may include:

• nausea, upset stomach, loss of appetite, constipation, diarrhea;

• general ill feeling;

• headache, drowsiness, dizziness or spinning sensation;

• flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling);

• skin rash, increased sweating; or

• tiredness, lack of energy.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

• If you have an allergy to papaverine or any other part of papaverine.
• If you are allergic to any drugs like this one, any other drugs, foods, or other substances. Tell your doctor about the allergy and what signs you had, like rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat; or any other signs.
• If you have heart block.

This is not a list of all drugs or health problems that interact with this medicine.

Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all of your drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins) and health problems. You must check to make sure that it is safe for you to take papaverine with all of your drugs and health problems. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any drug without checking with your doctor.

If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.

Excipient information presented when available (limited, particularly for generics); consult specific product labeling. [DSC] = Discontinued product

Solution, Injection, as hydrochloride:

Generic: 30 mg/mL (2 mL, 10 mL [DSC])

• Vasodilator

Levodopa: Papaverine may enhance the hypotensive effect of Levodopa. Papaverine may diminish the therapeutic effect of Levodopa. Monitor therapy