Definition

A medication that helps to relax blood vessels and reduce blood pressure by blocking calcium from entering cells, often used to treat high blood pressure, chest pain, and certain heart rhythm disorders.

Example

The doctor prescribed verapamil to help manage my high blood pressure.

Conversation

Have you heard of verapamil?

Yeah, isn't it used for treating high blood pressure?

Exactly! I read that it can also help with certain heart conditions.

That's interesting! I should ask my doctor about it next time.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Verapamil is a compound word formed from 'veratrum' (from Latin, meaning a type of plant, specifically the false hellebore) and 'pamil' (derived from 'pan' meaning all and 'mil' from 'militare' meaning to serve). The word refers to a medication derived from the plant that serves to treat various conditions, particularly hypertension and angina.

Memory Tip

Think of 'veratrum' as a plant that serves a purpose in medicine, and 'pamil' suggesting it serves all, helping to remember that verapamil is a medication that serves to treat heart conditions.

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