Carvedilol: functions, dosage, side effects, how to use it

What medicine is Carvedilol?

What is Carvedilol for?

Carvedilol is a drug in the class of beta-blockers and alpha-blockers that acts as a blocker for the performance of certain natural substances, such as epinephrine, in your heart and blood vessels. The effect of this treatment is a decrease in heart rate, blood pressure, and also heart tension.

This makes carvedilol frequently used to treat hypertension and heart failure. This drug is also used after a heart attack to increase your chance of survival if your heart isn't functioning properly. Another function of carvedilol is to lower blood pressure, help prevent strokes and kidney disorders.

How is Carvedilol used?

Always follow the rules that have been given by your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment.

Read pharmacy-provided drug guides and patient information brochures, if any, before you get this medication and each time you repurchase it. If you have questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Take Carvedilol only by mouth with the help of food, as directed by your doctor. Generally, patients who need this treatment take Carvedilol twice a day.

It is advisable to follow the dosage regularly for optimal benefit from this drug. To help you remember, take this medication at the same time each day. Do not stop using this drug until your doctor has advised you to stop.

Tell your doctor immediately if your condition does not improve or gets worse, for example if during a blood pressure reading, your blood pressure remains high or gets higher, or if the symptoms of heart failure are getting worse (shortness of breath)

How is Carvedilol stored?

This medication is best stored at room temperature, away from direct light and damp places. Don't keep it in the bathroom. Don't freeze it. Other brands of this drug may have different storage rules. Observe the storage instructions on the product package or ask your pharmacist. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.

Do not flush medicines down the toilet or down the drain unless instructed to do so. Discard this product when it has expired or when it is no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company about how to safely dispose of your product.

Carvedilol dosage

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment.

What is the dosage of Carvedilol for adults?

To treat angina

• Initial dose: 6.25 mg taken twice daily with food assistance
• Continuous dosage: 6.25-25 mg orally twice a day with the aid of food
• Maximum dose: 50 mg / day

To treat heart failure

• Initial dose: 3.125 mg orally twice a day for 2 weeks, if required, the dose is added in two-fold increments every 2 weeks to the highest dose the patient can tolerate.
• Maximum dose: 50 mg / day orally twice daily in patients weighing 85 kg or more. 50 mg / day orally twice daily in patients weighing less than 85 kg.

To treat hypertension

• Initial dose: 6.25 mg taken twice daily with food assistance
• Continuous dosage: 6.25-25 mg orally twice a day with the aid of food
• Maximum dose: 50 mg / day

What is the dosage of Carvedilol for children?

There is no provision for the dosage of this drug for children. This medicine can be dangerous for children. It is important to understand the safety of drugs before use. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

In what dosage is Carvedilol available?

The dosage requirements for carvedilol are:

• Extended release capsule, oral: 10mg, 20mg, 40mg, 80mg
• Tablet, oral: 3.125mg, 6.25mg, 12.5mg, 25mg

Carvedilol side effects

What side effects can I experience due to Carvedilol?

Some of the most common side effects of taking carvedilol are:

• Allergic reactions
• Difficulty breathing
• Swelling of the face, lips, tongue, throat, or in the leg area
• Dizziness or feeling like fainting
• Slow or irregular heartbeat
• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Numbness in the hands and feet
• Loss of bladder control
• High blood sugar levels (thirst, frequent urination, hunger, dry mouth, bad breath, tiredness easily, dry skin, blurred vision, weight loss
• Low blood pressure

Not everyone experiences these side effects. There may be some side effects not listed above. If you have concerns about certain side effects, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Carvedilol Drug Warnings and Cautions

What should be known before using Carvedilol?

Carvedilol is not recommended if:

• You have asthma, bronchitis, emphysema
• You have acute liver disease
• You have acute heart disease, such as heart block, sick sinus syndrome, or a weak heart rate (unless you have a pacemaker)

To make sure this medication is safe for you to take, tell your doctor if you have:

• Diabetes (taking Carvedilol can make it difficult for you to know for sure the level of sugar in your blood)
• Angina (chest pain)
• Low blood pressure
• Kidney illness
• Liver disease
• Thyroid disorders
• Pheochromocytoma (tumor of the adrenal gland)
• Circulatory disorders, such as Raynaud's Syndrome; or
• History of allergies

Is Carvedilol safe for pregnant and lactating women?

There are no adequate studies regarding the risks of using this drug in pregnant or breastfeeding women. Always consult your doctor to weigh the potential benefits and risks before using this medication. This drug is included in the risk of pregnancy category C according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The following references the pregnancy risk categories according to the FDA:

A = Not at risk

B = No risk in several studies

C = May be risky

D = There is positive evidence of risk

X = Contraindicated

N = Unknown

Carvedilol Drug Interactions

What medicines may interact with Carvedilol?

Drug interactions can change the performance of your medications or increase the risk of serious side effects. Not all possible drug interactions are listed in this document. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription / non-prescription drugs and herbal products) and consult your doctor or pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any medication without your doctor's approval.

Using this medication with some of the medicines below is usually not recommended, your doctor may not recommend that you continue using the drugs below or change your prescription according to your needs.

• Colchine

In some cases, it may be necessary to take Carvedilol together with other medicines. If these medicines are prescribed for you, your doctor will usually change the dosage or determine how often you should take them.

• Afatinib
• Albuterol
• Amiodarone
• Arformoterol
• Bambuterol
• Bosutinib
• Bupropion
• Clenbuterol
• Cobicistat
• Colterol
• Crizotinib
• Dabigatran Etexilate
• Diltiazem
• Doxorubicin
• Doxorubicin Hydrochloride Liposome
• Dronedarone
• Epinephrine
• Everolimus
• Fenoldopam
• Phenoterol
• Fingolimod
• Fluoxetine
• Formoterol
• Hexoprenaline
• Indacaterol
• Iobenguane I 123
• Isoetharine
• Lacosamide
• Levalbuterol
• Metaproterenol
• Morphine
• Morphine Sulfate Liposome
• Nilotinib
• Olodaterol
• Pirbuterol
• Pixantrone
• Pomalidomide
• Procaterol
• Reproterol
• Ritodrine
• Romidepsin
• Salmeterol
• Terbutaline
• Topotecan
• Trabectedin
• Tretoquinol
• Tulobuterol
• Verapamil
• Vilanterol
• Vincristine
• Vincristine Sulfate Liposome

Taking Carvedilol together with any of the following medicines may increase your risk of certain side effects, but the combination of the two drugs allows optimal treatment for you. If these medicines are prescribed for you, your doctor will usually change the dosage or determine how often you should take them.

• Acarbose
• Aceclofenac
• Acemetacin
• Acetohexamide
• Acetyldigoxin
• Alfuzosin
• Amlodipine
• Amtolmetin Guacil
• Arbutamine
• Aspirin
• Benfluorex
• Bromfenac
• Bufexamac
• Bunazosin
• Celecoxib
• Chlorpropamide
• Choline Salicylate
• Cimetidine
• Clonixin
• Deslanoside
• Dexibuprofen
• Dexketoprofen
• Diclofenac
• Dislunisal
• Digitoxin
• Digoxin
• Dipyrone
• Dobutamine
• Doxazosin
• Etodolac
• Etofenamate
• Etoricoxib
• Felbinac
• Felodipine
• Fenoprofen
• Fepradinol
• Feprazone
• Floctafenine
• Flufenamic Acid
• Flurbiprofen
• Gliclazide
• Glimepiride
• Glipizide
• Gliquidone
• Glyburide
• Guar Gum
• Ibuprofen
• Ibuprofen Lysine
• Indomethacin
• Insulin
• Aspart Insulin, Recombinant
• Glulisine Insulin
• Lyspro Insulin, Recombinant
• Ketoprofen
• Ketorolac
• Lacidipine
• Lercanidipine
• Lornoxicam
• Loxoprofen
• Lumiracoxib
• Manidipine
• Meclofenamate
• Mefenamic Acid
• Meloxicam
• Metformin
• Metildigoxin
• Mibefradil
• Miglitol
• Morniflumate
• Moxisylyte
• Nabumetone
• Naproxen
• Nepafenac
• Nicardipine
• Nifedipine
• Niflumic Acid
• Nilvadipine
• Nimesulide
• Nimodipine
• Nisoldipine
• Nitrendipine
• Oxaprozin
• Oxyphenbutazone
• Parecoxib
• Phenoxybenzamine
• Phentolamine
• Phenylbutazone
• Piketoprofen
• Piroxicam
• Pranidipine
• Pranoprofen
• Prazosin
• Proglumetacin
• Propyphenazone
• Proquazone
• Repaglinide
• Rifampin
• Rifapentine
• Rofecoxib
• Salicylic Acid
• Salsalate
• Sodium Salicylate
• St. John's Wort
• Sulindac
• Tamsulosin
• Tenoxicam
• Terazosin
• Tiaprofenic Acid
• Tolazamide
• Tolbutamide
• Tolfenamic Acid
• Tolmetin
• Trimazosin
• Troglitazone
• Urapidil
• Valdecoxib

Can food or alcohol interact with Carvedilol?

Certain drugs should not be used with meals or when eating certain foods because drug interactions can occur. Consuming alcohol or tobacco with certain drugs can also cause interactions to occur. Discuss your use of drugs with food, alcohol, or tobacco with your health care provider.

What health conditions may interact with Carvedilol?

Any other health conditions you have can affect the use of this drug. Some of the health conditions that you should tell your doctor before taking carvedilol are:

• Angina
• Bradycardia
• Respiratory or lung problems, for example bronchitis or emphysema
• Coronary heart disease
• Diabetes
• Pulmonary edema
• Disorders of the heart or blood vessels
• Hyperthyroidism
• Hypotension
• Major scheduled operations
• Peripheral vascular disease (impaired blood circulation)
• Pheochromocytoma (tumor of the adrenal gland)
• Asthma
• Stage two or three AV block
• Cardiogenic shock (shock caused by a heart attack)
• Acute heart failure
• Hypersensitivity reactions, eg anaphylaxis, angioedema, Stevens-Johnson syndrome
• Acute liver disease
• Sick sinus syndrome (abnormal heart rhythm)
• Kidney illness
• Low blood sugar

Carvedilol overdose

What should I do in an emergency or overdose?

In case of an emergency or overdose, contact the local emergency services provider (112) or immediately to the nearest hospital emergency department.

Symptoms of an overdose that may occur as a result of taking carvedilol are:

• Weak heartbeat
• Dizzy
• Fainting
• Difficulty breathing
• Gag
• Loss of consciousness
• Seizures

What should I do if I miss a dose?

If you forget a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, when it is nearing the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to the usual dosing schedule. Don't double the dose.