General Information and Indications:
Carvedilol is used in combination with
other drugs to treat heart failure. It also is used alone or in combination
with other medications to treat high blood pressure. Carvedilol is a
combination of two classes of drugs called beta-blockers and alpha-blockers.
It works by relaxing the blood vessels so your heart does not have to pump
as hard.
Information For Users:
Carvedilol comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It
is usually taken twice a day with food. You will start out taking a low dose
of carvedilol, and your doctor will increase your dose every 1 to 2 weeks
until you are taking a dose that works well for you. When you start
carvedilol and whenever your doctor increases your dose you will be closely
watched to make sure the dose is not too high for you. Follow the directions
on your prescription label, ask your doctor or pharmacist If you have any
questions. Take carvedilol exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of
it or take it more often than prescribed by your health care provider.
Carvedilol controls high blood pressure and heart failure but does not cure
them. Your blood pressure should lower within 30 minutes and your symptoms
of heart failure should begin to improve within the first hour of beginning
carvedilol. Continue taking carvedilol even if you feel well. Do not
discontinue taking carvedilol without informing your doctor. Abruptly
stopping carvedilol can worsen your symptoms. Your doctor will probably want
to decrease your dose gradually over 1 to 2 weeks.
Other uses for this medicine
Carvedilol also is used occasionally to treat angina (chest pain) and heart
muscle disease. Talk to your doctor about the possible risks of using this
medication.
special precautions:
o Inform your doctor and pharmacist if you have
a history of allergic reactions to any substance (for example, food products
or bee stings) or are allergic to carvedilol or any other medications.
o Inform your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription
medications you are taking, especially cimetidine (Tagamet), clonidine (Catapres),
cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), digoxin (Lanoxicaps, Lanoxin), diltiazem
(Cardizem, Cardizem C, Dilacor XR), fluoxetine (Prozac), insulin, oral
medications for diabetes, paroxetine (Paxil), phenelzine (Nardil),
propafenone (Rythmol), quinidine (Quinaglute, Dura-Tabs, others), reserpine
(Serpalan, Serpasil), rifampin (Rifadin, Rifamate, Rifater, Rimactane),
tranylcypromine (Parnate), verapamil (Calan, Covera-HS, Verelan), and
vitamins and herbal products.
o inform your doctor if you are breast-feeding asthma or another lung
disease; blood vessel disease; heart, kidney, or liver disease; diabetes;
pheochromocytoma; or an overactive thyroid gland.
o Inform your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are
breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking carvedilol, call your
doctor.
o if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, Inform your doctor or
dentist that you are taking carvedilol.
o you should know that this drug may make you drowsy. Do not drive a car or
operate machinery until you know how this drug affects you.
o you should know that this drug may make you dizzy and lightheaded when you
are standing. You should sit or lie down when these symptoms occur and then
stand up slowly.
Possible Adverse
Effects:
Side effects from carvedilol can occur. Inform
your doctor if any of the following symptoms are severe or do not go away:
o tiredness
o lightheadedness
o dizziness
o body or leg swelling
o headache
o diarrhea
o vision changes
o joint pain
o difficulty falling or staying asleep
If you have any of the following symptoms, call your doctor without delay:
o fainting
o difficulty breathing
o weight gain
o chest pain
o slow, irregular heartbeat
o abdominal pain
o dark urine
o yellowing of the skin or eyes, jaundice
o loss of consciousness
o vomiting
o loss of appetite (anorexia)
o seizures
o changes in blood sugar level
o frequent urination
o thirst
o dry mouth
o flushing
o dry skin
o sore throat, fever, cough, or other signs of infection
Brand Name(s):
o Coreg®
o Coreg® Tiltabs® |
