Papaverine

Papaverine is a medication that relaxes the smooth muscles in your blood vessels, which helps them to widen (dilate). This can lower blood pressure and makes it easier for blood to flow through your veins and arteries.

Papaverine is used to treat various conditions that cause smooth muscle spasms. This includes chest pain, circulation issues, heart attack, or problems with the stomach or gallbladder.

Papaverine is not meant for treating erectile dysfunction (impotence) and should never be injected into the penis. Doing this can lead to painful or prolonged erections that might need surgery to fix.

Papaverine may also be used for other reasons not mentioned in this medication guide.

Papaverine is injected into a muscle or into a vein through an IV. A healthcare provider will give you this injection.

When injected into a vein, papaverine must be given slowly (over 1 or 2 minutes) to prevent vein irritation or other side effects.

You should not receive papaverine if you have a serious heart condition such as "AV block."

In an emergency situation, it may not be possible to inform your caregivers about your health conditions. Make sure any doctor treating you afterward knows you have received this medicine.

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.

Papaverine may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor right away 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 of papaverine 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.

Because you will receive papaverine in a clinical setting, it is unlikely that you will miss a dose.

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Overdose symptoms may include weakness, drowsiness, dizziness, vomiting, double vision, sweating, warmth or redness, fast heartbeats, and uncontrolled eye movement.

papaverine may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.

Drinking alcohol can increase certain side effects of papaverine.

Taking this medicine with other drugs that make you feel sleepy can increase this effect. Ask your doctor before taking papaverine with a sleeping pill, narcotic pain medicine, muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety, depression, or seizures.

Other drugs may interact with papaverine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Inform each of your health care providers about all medicines you are currently using and any medicine you begin or stop using.