Carvedilol
Introduction To Carvedilol
Carvedilol is a medicine used to treat high blood pressure, heart-related chest pain (angina), and heart failure. It works by relaxing the blood vessels, so blood can flow more easily to the heart. Lowering blood pressure also helps prevent future heart attacks and stroke.
Carvedilol should be taken with food. You should take it in the dose and duration as advised by the doctor. It is important to take it even if you feel well or if your blood pressure is controlled. Do not stop this medicine without talking to the doctor as your condition could get worse.
Making some changes in your lifestyle will help in improving your condition. These may include regular exercise, losing weight, smoking cessation, reducing alcohol intake, and reducing the amount of salt in your diet as advised by your doctor. This medicine is tolerated well by most patients but it may have a few side effects. These include dizziness, headache, and tiredness. Let your doctor know if these side effects bother you or do not go away.
Before taking this medicine, let your doctor know if you have any heart or kidney diseases. Pregnant or breastfeeding mothers should also consult their doctor before taking this medicine.
Uses of Carvedilol
- Treatment of Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Treatment of Angina (heart-related chest pain)
- Treatment of Heart failure
Benefits of Carvedilol
Treatment of Hypertension (high blood pressure)
Carvedilol works by blocking the effects of some chemicals on your heart and
blood vessels. It slows down your heart rate and helps the heart to beat with
less force. This lowers your blood pressure and helps in reducing your risk of
having a stroke, a heart attack, other heart problems, or kidney problems in
the future. This medicine needs to be taken regularly to be effective, so keep
taking it even if you feel well. Do not stop without talking to your doctor.
Treatment of Angina (heart-related chest pain)
Carvedilol relaxes the blood vessels so that blood can flow more easily around
your body and makes sure that your heart is getting a good supply of oxygen.
This makes it less likely that you will suffer chest pain caused by angina.
This medicine can help increase your ability to exercise and go about your
daily life more easily by reducing the frequency of angina attacks. You should
take it regularly and as long as it is prescribed for it to work effectively.
Treatment of Heart failure
Heart failure means your heart is weak and cannot pump enough blood to your
lungs and the rest of your body. The most common symptoms are breathlessness,
tiredness, and swelling in your legs, ankles, abdomen, and other parts of your
body. Carvedilol makes it easier for your heart to pump blood around your body
and is, therefore, effective treatment for heart failure.
This medicine will help relieve your symptoms, making you feel better and more energetic. You should make appropriate lifestyle changes (such as eating healthily and keeping active) to help this medicine be effective. Take it regularly and keep taking it even if you feel better.
Side effects of Carvedilol
Most side effects do not require any medical attention and disappear as your body adjusts to the medicine. Consult your doctor if they persist or if you’re worried about them
Common side effects of Carvenol
- Decreased blood pressure
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
How to use Carvedilol
Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Swallow it as a whole. Do not chew, crush or break it. Carvedilol is to be taken with food.
How Carvedilol works
Carvedilol is an alpha and beta blocker. It works by slowing down the heart rate and relaxing blood vessels which makes the heart more efficient at pumping blood around the body.
Quick tips
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It should be taken with food.
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Check your blood pressure 1 week after starting Carvedilol, and inform your doctor if it has not improved.
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Carvedilol may cause dizziness or sleepiness. Do not drive or do anything requiring concentration until you know how it affects you.
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It is best to avoid drinking alcohol while taking Carvedilol as it may make the side effects worse.
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Do not stop taking Carvedilol suddenly as it can cause your blood pressure to rise suddenly, thereby increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Safety Advice
PregnancyCONSULT YOUR DOCTOR
Can I take Carvedilol if I’m pregnant?
Carvedilol may be unsafe to use during pregnancy. Although there are limited studies in humans, animal studies have shown harmful effects on the developing baby. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and any potential risks before prescribing it to you. Please consult your doctor.
BreastfeedingSAFE IF PRESCRIBED
Can I take Carvedilol if I’m breastfeeding?
Carvedilol is probably safe to use during breastfeeding. Limited human data suggests that the drug does not represent any significant risk to the baby.
AlcoholUNSAFE
Is drinking alcohol while taking Carvedilol safe?
It is unsafe to consume alcohol with Carvedilol.
DrivingUNSAFE
Can I drive after taking Carvedilol?
Carvedilol may decrease alertness, affect your vision or make you feel sleepy and dizzy. Do not drive if these symptoms occur.
KidneySAFE IF PRESCRIBED
Can I take Carvedilol if I have/had kidney diseases?
Carvedilol is safe to use in patients with kidney disease. No dose adjustment of Carvedilol is recommended. However, inform your doctor if you have any underlying kidney disease. Regular monitoring of blood pressure is recommended for dose adjustment.
LiverCAUTION
Can I take Carvedilol if I have/had liver diseases?
Carvedilol should be used with caution in patients with liver disease. Dose adjustment of Carvedilol may be needed. Please consult your doctor. Use of Carvedilol is not recommended in patients with severe liver disease.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What happens when you stop taking Carvedilol?
Carvedilol needs to be taken regularly as directed by your doctor. Suddenly stopping it may cause chest pain or heart attack. Your doctor may slowly lower your dose over a period of time before stopping it completely if required.
Q. Does Carvedilol make you tired?
Yes, Carvedilol may make you tired as well as dizzy. These may occur initially when you start the treatment or when the dose is increased. If you experience these symptoms you should not drive or operate machinery.
Q. Can Carvedilol cause weight gain?
Yes, weight gain is a common side effect of Carvedilol, but it does not occur in everyone. If you are taking Carvedilol for heart failure, tell your doctor if you gain weight or have trouble breathing, as this may be a sign of fluid retention.
Q. Can Carvedilol cause kidney failure?
Use of Carvedilol in patients with heart failure can rarely lead to deterioration of kidney function. However, Carvedilol may cause risk of kidney failure in patients with low blood pressure (systolic blood pressure less than 100 mm Hg), patients with hardening of the arteries and/or having heart disease, or already have impaired kidney function. Such patients should be closely monitored during treatment with Carvedilol. Although, kidney functions return to baseline when Carvedilol is stopped.
Q. Can a diabetic patient take Carvedilol?
Yes, a diabetic patient can take Carvedilol, provided that there is a regular check on blood glucose levels. It has been noted that in well-controlled diabetes mellitus with mild to moderate hypertension, Carvedilol did not have any effect on blood glucose levels. However, it is important to know that, using Carvedilol class of medicines (beta-blockers) may hide the symptoms of hypoglycemia (decrease in glucose levels), especially an increase in heartbeat or palpitations. In addition to that, Carvedilol may cause worsening of hyperglycemia (increase in blood glucose levels) in patients with heart failure and diabetes. Hence, it is recommended that blood glucose should be monitored while initiating, adjusting, or discontinuing the dose of Carvedilol. Inform the doctor if there is any change in blood glucose levels during Carvedilol therapy.
Q. Can I take Carvedilol empty stomach?
It is recommended that you take Carvedilol with food, as food decreases the rate at which the medicine gets absorbed by the body. This will help to reduce the chances of orthostatic hypotension (low blood pressure which may cause dizziness or fainting when you stand up).
Q. What are the serious side effects of Carvedilol?
Carvedilol may cause serious side effects such as fainting, shortness of breath, weight gain, swelling of the arms, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs. Some may also experience chest pain, slow or irregular heartbeat, rash, hives, itching, and difficulty in breathing and swallowing. If you experience any of these symptoms call your doctor immediately.
Q. What if I take more than the recommended dose of Carvedilol?
If you take more than the recommended dose of Carvedilol you may experience slow heartbeat, dizziness, fainting, difficulty breathing, vomiting, and loss of consciousness or seizures. Contact your doctor and seek immediate medical help in a nearby hospital.
Q. Who should not take Carvedilol?
Carvedilol should be avoided if the patient has severe heart failure and is hospitalized in the intensive care unit or require certain intravenous medications that help support circulation (inotropic medications). In addition to that, Carvedilol should be avoided in patients who are prone to asthma or other breathing problems, have a slow heartbeat or irregular heartbeat, have liver problems, and are allergic to Carvedilol.
References
Written By:
Dr Advikka Ridhy
MBBS
RMO, Aster MIMS
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