Carvedilol

Carvedilol is a prescription medication that belongs to a class of drugs called beta-blockers. It works on your heart and blood vessels to help them function better. Doctors prescribe it to treat heart failure and high blood pressure.

This medication helps your heart work more efficiently by reducing its workload. It also relaxes your blood vessels so blood can flow more easily. Carvedilol is available in immediate-release tablets and extended-release capsules.

Your doctor may prescribe carvedilol alone or combined with other heart medications. It requires a prescription and regular monitoring by your healthcare provider. Many people take this medication long term to manage chronic heart conditions.

• Heart failure to improve heart function and reduce hospitalizations
• High blood pressure to lower cardiovascular risk
• Left ventricular dysfunction after a heart attack
• Cardiomyopathy to slow disease progression

Carvedilol blocks two types of receptors in your body called beta receptors and alpha receptors. By blocking beta receptors in your heart, it slows your heart rate and reduces how hard your heart contracts. This means your heart uses less oxygen and works more efficiently.

The medication also blocks alpha receptors in your blood vessels. This causes the vessels to relax and widen, which lowers blood pressure. Together, these actions reduce strain on your heart and improve blood flow throughout your body. Over time, carvedilol can help prevent your heart from getting weaker in people with heart failure.

Carvedilol dosing varies based on your condition and how you respond to treatment. For heart failure, doctors typically start with 3.125 mg twice daily and gradually increase the dose. The maximum dose is usually 25 mg twice daily for people under 85 kg, or 50 mg twice daily for those over 85 kg. For high blood pressure, the starting dose is often 6.25 mg twice daily, with a maximum of 25 mg twice daily. Extended-release capsules are taken once daily. Your doctor will determine the right dose for your specific situation and adjust it slowly over several weeks.

• Dizziness or lightheadedness, especially when standing up
• Tiredness or fatigue
• Diarrhea or upset stomach
• Slower heart rate
• Weight gain
• Swelling in ankles or feet
• Low blood pressure
• Headache

Serious side effects require immediate medical attention. These include severe dizziness, fainting, very slow heartbeat, new or worsening shortness of breath, unusual swelling, and chest pain. Contact your doctor if you experience sudden weight gain or worsening heart failure symptoms. Never stop taking carvedilol suddenly without medical supervision, as this can cause serious heart problems.

• Calcium channel blockers like diltiazem or verapamil may slow heart rate too much
• Diabetes medications because carvedilol can mask low blood sugar symptoms
• Other blood pressure medications may cause excessive blood pressure drops
• Digoxin levels may increase when taken with carvedilol
• CYP2D6 inhibitors like fluoxetine or paroxetine can increase carvedilol levels
• Rifampin can decrease carvedilol effectiveness
• Clonidine withdrawal must be managed carefully with beta-blockers
• NSAIDs like ibuprofen may reduce carvedilol effectiveness

Regular blood tests help ensure carvedilol is working safely for you. Your doctor will check your kidney function with tests like creatinine and blood urea nitrogen, especially when starting treatment. Liver function tests are important because carvedilol is processed by your liver. If you have diabetes, blood sugar monitoring becomes even more important because carvedilol can mask warning signs of low blood sugar. Your doctor will also monitor your heart rate and blood pressure at every visit. Some people need periodic heart function tests like echocardiograms to see how well the medication is working. Rite Aid offers blood testing services with over 200 biomarkers that can help you and your doctor track these important health markers between office visits.