Carvedilol
1 medicine
Carvedilol is a beta-blocker that also relaxes blood vessels, used for high blood pressure and heart failure. It must never be stopped abruptly, since sudden withdrawal can trigger a heart attack or dangerous rebound in blood pressure.
Key facts
- Carvedilol (found in Coreg and generic tablets) blocks beta receptors throughout the body and alpha receptors in blood vessels, slowing the heart and relaxing blood vessels at the same time.
- It treats high blood pressure and chronic heart failure, and is started at a low dose with food, usually twice a day, to limit dizziness.
- Never stop carvedilol suddenly. Abrupt withdrawal can cause rebound high blood pressure, worsening chest pain, or a heart attack, particularly if you have coronary artery disease.
- Seek urgent care for fainting, a very slow heartbeat, or sudden severe shortness of breath.
What carvedilol treats
Carvedilol treats high blood pressure and is used long-term in chronic heart failure to reduce hospital admissions and improve survival. It is also given after a heart attack in people with reduced heart-pumping function, to help protect the heart going forward.
How carvedilol works
Carvedilol blocks beta receptors, which normally speed up and strengthen the heartbeat, so the heart works less hard and beats more slowly. It also blocks alpha receptors in blood vessel walls, relaxing the vessels and lowering resistance to blood flow. Together these effects reduce blood pressure and ease the heart's workload.
Before you take it
- Do not take carvedilol if you have decompensated heart failure needing intravenous heart-support medicines, a very slow heart rate, a high-grade heart block without a pacemaker, severe liver disease, or severe asthma or another bronchospastic lung disease.
- Tell your prescriber if you have diabetes: carvedilol can mask a fast heartbeat, a normal warning sign of low blood sugar.
- Other medicines that slow the heart, such as verapamil, diltiazem, digoxin, or clonidine, can add to carvedilol's effect and cause a dangerously slow heartbeat.
- Alcohol increases carvedilol's blood-pressure-lowering effect, especially with the extended-release form; take it with food.
Side effects
Common effects include dizziness, tiredness, slow heart rate, and mild ankle swelling.
Stop and seek urgent medical care for any of these:
- Fainting or a very slow or irregular heartbeat.
- Sudden, severe shortness of breath or wheezing.
- Marked swelling of the legs, feet, or abdomen, suggesting worsening heart failure.
- Signs of a severe allergic reaction: swelling of the face or throat, or difficulty breathing.
Safety essentials
- Never stop carvedilol abruptly; a doctor must taper the dose over one to two weeks to avoid rebound hypertension, worsening angina, or a heart attack.
- Check your pulse regularly and contact your prescriber if your resting heart rate falls below about 50 beats a minute or you feel faint.
- Tell every doctor, dentist, and surgeon that you take carvedilol before any procedure, since it affects how your body responds to stress and blood loss.
This page is educational and does not replace advice from a doctor or pharmacist who knows your health history.