What are the uses for bepridil?
Bepridil is prescribed for patients with angina pectoris (heart pain) due to coronary artery disease.
Vascor (bepridil hydrochloride) is indicated for the treatment of chronic stable angina (classic effort-associated angina). Because Vascor (bepridil) has caused serious ventricular arrhythmias, including torsades de pointes type ventricular tachycardia, and the occurrence of cases of agranulocytosis associated with its use (see WARNINGS), it should be reserved for patients who have failed to respond optimally to, or are intolerant of, other anti-anginal medication.
Vascor (bepridil) may be used alone or in combination with beta-blockers and/or nitrates. Controlled clinical studies have shown an added effect when Vascor (bepridil) is administered to patients already receiving propranolol.
Is bepridil available as a generic drug?
No
Do I need a prescription for bepridil?
Yes
What are the side effects of bepridil?
- Bepridil can cause very serious cardiac arrhythmias. The risk is increased in patients with a specific electrocardiographic abnormality called QT prolongation and in patients with low blood concentrations of potassium or magnesium.
- Bepridil also can cause increased or decreased heart rate and other abnormal rhythms.
Other side effects that can occur among patients taking bepridil include:
- flu-like symptoms,
- muscle aches,
- fever,
- nausea,
- vomiting,
- loss of appetite,
- constipation,
- gas,
- stomach ache,
- dry mouth,
- diarrhea,
- headache,
- fatigue,
- nervousness,
- drowsiness,
- dizziness,
- depression,
- inability to sleep,
- blurred vision,
- impotence, and
- reduction in sexual drive.
What is the dosage for bepridil?
Bepridil usually is taken once daily. It can be taken with meals or at bedtime if nausea is a problem.

QUESTION
In the U.S., 1 in every 4 deaths is caused by heart disease. See AnswerWhich drugs or supplements interact with bepridil?
- Bepridil can reduce the strength with which the heart muscle contracts. Drugs which also have this effect when given together with bepridil could seriously reduce contraction of the heart and possibly precipitate congestive heart failure. Such drugs include quinidine (Quinaglute; Duraquin; Quinidex), procainamide (Procan-SR; Pronestyl), disopyramide (Norpace), flecainide (Tambocor), verapamil (Calan; Isoptin; Covera; Verelan), diltiazem (Cardizem; Tiazac; Dilacor), and all beta-blockers, for example, atenolol (Tenormin).
- Bepridil slows the ability of the heart's muscle to recover electrically and get ready for the next contraction. Other drugs which have the same effect could interact with bepridil, possibly causing serious problems with abnormal heart rhythms and should be used cautiously if at all with bepridil. Such drugs include quinidine (Quinaglute; Duraquin; Quinidex), procainamide (Procan-SR; Pronestyl), disopyramide (Norpace), flecainide (Tambocor), and tricyclic antidepressants, for example, amitriptyline (Elavil, Endep).
- Bepridil may increase levels of digoxin (Lanoxin) in the blood, thereby increasing the risk of digoxin toxicity.
- Diuretics, for example, furosemide (Lasix), bumetanide (Bumex), torsemide Demadex), hydrochlorothiazide (Hydrodiuril), chlorthalidone (Hygroton), metolazone (Zaroxolyn) may cause a reduction in blood potassium concentrations thereby increasing the risk of bepridil-induced abnormal heart rhythms.
Is bepridil safe to take if I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?
- Bepridil crosses the placenta, and therefore should not be used during pregnancy unless the benefit to the mother outweighs the potential but unknown risk to the fetus.
- Bepridil is secreted into breast milk and therefore should not be used by breastfeeding mothers unless benefit to the mother clearly outweighs the potential but unknown risk to the infant.
Summary
Bepridil (Vascor, Bepadin) is a drug prescribed for the treatment of angina pectoris due to coronary artery disease. Bepridil is no longer available in the US. Side effects, drug interactions, dosage, and pregnancy and breastfeeding safety should be reviewed prior to taking this medication.
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Related Disease Conditions
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Heart Attack Symptoms and Early Warning Signs
Recognizing heart attack symptoms and signs can help save your life or that of someone you love. Some heart attack symptoms, including left arm pain and chest pain, are well known but other, more nonspecific symptoms may be associated with a heart attack. Nausea, vomiting, malaise, indigestion, sweating, shortness of breath, and fatigue may signal a heart attack. Heart attack symptoms and signs in women may differ from those in men.
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How the Heart Works
The heart is a very important organ in the body. It is responsible for continuously pumping oxygen and nutrient-rich blood throughout your body to sustain life. It is a fist-sized muscle that beats (expands and contracts) 100,000 times per day, pumping a total of five or six quarts of blood each minute, or about 2,000 gallons per day.
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Chest Pain
Chest pain is a common complaint by a patient in the ER. Causes of chest pain include broken or bruised ribs, pleurisy, pneumothorax, shingles, pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, angina, heart attack, costochondritis, pericarditis, aorta or aortic dissection, and reflux esophagitis. Diagnosis and treatment of chest pain depends upon the cause and clinical presentation of the patient's chest pain.
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Heart Disease
Heart disease (coronary artery disease) occurs when plaque builds up in the coronary arteries, the vessels that supply blood to the heart. Heart disease can lead to heart attack. Risk factors for heart disease include: Smoking High blood pressure High cholesterol Diabetes Family history Obesity Angina, shortness of breath, and sweating are just a few symptoms that may indicate a heart attack. Treatment of heart disease involves control of heart disease risk factors through lifestyle changes, medications, and/or stenting or bypass surgery. Heart disease can be prevented by controlling heart disease risk factors.
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Angina
Angina is chest pain due to inadequate blood supply to the heart. Angina symptoms may include chest tightness, burning, squeezing, and aching. Coronary artery disease is the main cause of angina but there are other causes. Angina is diagnosed by taking the patient's medical history and performing tests such as an electrocardiogram (EKG), blood test, stress test, echocardiogram, cardiac CT scan, and heart catheterization. Treatment of angina usually includes lifestyle modification, medication, and sometimes, surgery. The risk of angina can be reduced by following a heart healthy lifestyle.
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Heart Disease in Women
Heart disease in women has somewhat different symptoms, risk factors, and treatment compared to heart disease in men. Many women and health professionals are not aware of the risk factors for heart disease in women and may delay diagnosis and treatment. Lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise, tobacco use, overweight/obesity, stress, alcohol consumption, and depression influence heart disease risk in women. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes also increase women's risk of heart disease. Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG), stress-ECG, endothelial testing, ankle-brachial index (ABI), echocardiogram, nuclear imaging, electron beam CT, and lab tests to assess blood lipids and biomarkers of inflammation are used to diagnose heart disease. Early diagnosis and treatment of heart disease in women saves lives. Heart disease can be prevented and reversed with lifestyle changes.
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Heart Attack Prevention
Heart disease and heart attacks can be prevented by leading a healthy lifestyle with diet, exercise, and stress management. Symptoms of heart attack in men and women include chest discomfort and pain in the shoulder, neck, jaw, stomach, or back.
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Heart Disease Treatment in Women
Heart disease treatment in women should take into account female-specific guidelines that were developed by the American Heart Association. Risk factors and symptoms of heart disease in women differ from those in men. Treatment may include lifestyle modification (diet, exercise, weight management, smoking cessation, stress reduction), medications, percutaneous intervention procedure (PCI), and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Heart disease is reversible with treatment.
Treatment & Diagnosis
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Medications & Supplements
- Drugs: Questions to Ask Your Doctor or Pharmacist about Your Drugs
- Drug Interactions
- amlodipine besylate
- diltiazem (Cardizem, Cardizem CD, Cardizem LA, Tiazac, Cartia XT, Diltzac, Dilt-CD, and several oth)
- Calcium Channel Blockers (CCBs)
- nifedipine (Procardia, Adalat, Afeditab)
- verapamil (Calan, Verelan, Verelan PM [Discontinued: Isoptin, Isoptin SR, Covera-HS])
- nicardipine, Cardene, Cardene SR
- felodipine (Plendil)
- nisoldipine (Sular)
- Vascor (bepridil hydrochloride) Side Effects, Warnings, and Drug Interactions
Prevention & Wellness

Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
First section is courtesy of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration