Verapamil gel has been used for a long time in the USA for Ledderhose (and in some cases for Dupuytren nodules as well).
It is a compunded gel made in several pharmacies in the USA and two in the UK. Verapamil is used normally in tablet form for heart conditions (angina, irregular heart beat) and high bloodpressure, and as injection sometimes into Peyronie’s plaques. Taking it as tablet will not give a high enough level of the drug in a Ledderhose nodule to have an effect.
So a compounding pharmacy has to take verapamil capsules and crush the drug, then mix it in the right formulation gel or cream in the correct amount, so it is the concentration that is commonly used (15%) and it will be stable for months, and penetrate the skin when aplied to reach the nodules or lumps.
It needs to be applied to the skin over the nodule 2-3 times a day, and kept on wth a sock. It can take 3-6 months to see effect, but many patients who use it longterm say the lump stops growing or shrinks even, and stops bothering them. As will anything Dupuytren related, it doesn’t work for everyone.
There are presently two compounding pharmacies in the UK that we know will be able to supply Verapamil gel if presented with a valid prescriptipon.
- Specialist-Pharmacy have advised us they can formulate the gel. Patients would need a private prescription form a doctor, and the prescription has to state the drug is to be ‘compounded’.
- Roseway labs can formulate verapamil gel in 15/30/50 ml pack sizes for patients anywhere in the UK, as long as they have a valid prescription from a healthcare practitioner.
