Carvedilol (patient information)

Why this medication is prescribed

Carvedilol is used to treat heart failure (condition in which the heart cannot pump enough blood to all parts of the body) and high blood pressure. It also is used to treat people whose hearts cannot pump blood well as a result of a heart attack. Carvedilol is often used in combination with other medications. Carvedilol is in a class of medications called beta-blockers. It works by relaxing the blood vessels to allow blood to flow through the body more easily.

How this medication should be used

Carvedilol comes as a tablet and an extended-release (long-acting) capsule to take by mouth. The tablet is usually taken twice a day with food. The extended-release capsule is usually taken once a day in the morning with food. Try to take carvedilol at around the same time(s) every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take carvedilol exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Swallow the extended-release capsules whole. Do not chew or crush the capsules, and do not divide the beads inside a capsule into more than one dose. If you are unable to swallow the capsules, you may carefully open a capsule and sprinkle all of the beads it contains over a spoonful of cool or room temperature applesauce. Swallow the entire mixture immediately without chewing.

Your doctor will probably start you on a low dose of carvedilol and gradually increase your dose to allow your body to adjust to the medication. Talk to your doctor about how you feel and about any symptoms you experience during this time.

Carvedilol may help to control your condition but will not cure it. Continue taking carvedilol even if you feel well. Do not stop taking carvedilol without talking to your doctor. If you suddenly stop taking carvedilol, you may experience serious heart problems such as severe chest pain, a heart attack, or an irregular heartbeat. Your doctor will probably want to decrease your dose gradually over 1 to 2 weeks. Your doctor will watch you carefully and will probably tell you to avoid physical activity during this time.

Other uses for this medicine

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Special precautions

Before taking carvedilol:

• tell your doctor and pharmacist if you have are allergic to carvedilol or any other medications.
• tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, herbal products, and nutritional supplements you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: cimetidine (Tagamet); clonidine (Catapres), cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune); digoxin (Lanoxicaps, Lanoxin); diltiazem (Cardizem, Tiazac); epinephrine (Epipen); fluoxetine (Prozac); insulin; oral medications for diabetes; monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), tranylcypromine (Parnate), and selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar); paroxetine (Paxil); propafenone (Rythmol); quinidine; reserpine (Serpalan,); rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane); and verapamil (Calan, Covera-HS, Verelan). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
• tell your doctor if you have or have ever had asthma or other breathing problems, a slow or irregular heartbeat, or liver disease. Your doctor may tell you not to take carvedilol.
• tell your doctor if you have or have ever had problems with blood flow in your feet or legs, diabetes or any other condition that causes you to have low blood sugar, hyperthyroidism (condition in which there is too much thyroid hormone in the body), low blood pressure, Prinzmetal's angina (chest pain that comes at rest with no obvious cause), or pheochromocytoma (a tumor that develops on a gland near the kidneys and may cause high blood pressure and fast heartbeat). Also tell your doctor if you have ever had a serious allergic reaction to a food or any other substance.
• tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking carvedilol, call your doctor.
• if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking carvedilol.
• you should know that this medication may make you feel tired, dizzy, or lightheaded, especially when you start taking carvedilol and when your dose is increased. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you. Be especially careful during the first hour after you take the medication.
• do not drink any alcoholic drinks or take any prescription or nonprescription medications that contain alcohol for 2 hours before and 2 hours after you take carvedilol extended-release capsules. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you do not know if a medication that you plan to take contains alcohol.
• you should know that carvedilol may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, and fainting, especially when you get up too quickly from a lying position. This is more common when you first start taking carvedilol. To avoid this problem, get out of bed slowly, resting your feet on the floor for a few minutes before standing up.
• if you wear contact lenses, your eyes may become dry during your treatment with carvedilol. *Tell your doctor if this becomes bothersome.

Special dietary instructions

Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet.

What to do if you forget a dose

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

Side Effects

Side Effects of hyperglycemia

Carvedilol may cause hyperglycemia (high blood sugar). Call your doctor immediately if you have any of the following symptoms of hyperglycemia:

• extreme thirst
• frequent urination
• extreme hunger
• weakness
• blurred vision

Minor Side Effects

Carvedilol may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• tiredness
• weakness
• lightheadedness
• dizziness
• headache
• diarrhea
• nausea
• vomiting
• vision changes
• joint pain
• difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
• cough
• dry eyes
• numbness, burning, or tingling in the arms or legs

Severe Side Effects

Some side effects may be serious. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

• fainting
• shortness of breath
• weight gain
• swelling of the arms, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
• chest pain
• slow or irregular heartbeat
• rash
• hives
• itching
• difficulty breathing and swallowing

Carvedilol may cause other side effects. Tell your doctor if you experience any unusual problems while you are taking this medication.

If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at http://www.fda.gov/MedWatch/report.htm] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].

Storage conditions needed for this medication

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication.

In case of emergency/overdose

In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.

Symptoms of overdose may include:

• slow heartbeat
• dizziness
• fainting
• difficulty breathing
• vomiting
• loss of consciousness
• seizures

Other information

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor may order certain laboratory tests to check your body's response to carvedilol.

Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.

Brand names

• Coreg®
• Coreg CR®