Carvedilol
Hypertension, Angina Pectoris ... show more
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Drug Status
Government Approvals
US(FDA), UK(BNF)
WHO Essential Medicine
NO
Known Teratogen
NO
Pharmaceutical Class
Alpha-Adrenergic Blocker and Beta-Adrenergic Blocker
Controlled Drug Substance
NO
Carvedilol
Summary
Carvedilol is used to treat heart conditions, including heart failure, a weakened heart after a heart attack, and high blood pressure.
Carvedilol works by slowing down the heart and relaxing blood vessels. This makes it easier for the heart to pump blood and lowers blood pressure.
For adults, the usual starting dose for heart failure is 3.125 mg twice daily, which can be increased to a maximum of 25 mg twice daily. For hypertension, the starting dose is 6.25 mg twice daily, which can be increased to 25 mg twice daily. It's important to follow your doctor's advice for dosing.
Common side effects include feeling tired, short of breath, weight gain, diarrhea, and dry eyes. Serious side effects include dizziness or fainting from low blood pressure, a very slow heart rate, worsening heart problems, and allergic reactions.
Carvedilol should not be used by people with asthma, certain heart rhythm problems, severe liver problems, or allergies to it. It's important to watch out for dizziness, fatigue, fainting, low blood pressure, slow heart rate, or blood sugar changes. If you experience these, avoid driving or operating machinery.
Indications and Purpose
How does Carvedilol work?
Carvedilol is a medicine that helps lower blood pressure by relaxing your blood vessels. Lowering blood pressure can reduce your risk of having a stroke or heart attack.
Is Carvedilol effective?
Carvedilol is a medicine that helps people who've had a heart attack or have heart failure. A large study showed it significantly lowered the chances of death. In the study, fewer people taking carvedilol died compared to those taking a placebo (sugar pill). It also reduced the chances of having another heart attack and improved heart function in people with heart failure. The results were statistically significant, meaning the improvement wasn't just by chance.
What is Carvedilol?
Carvedilol is a medicine for heart problems like heart failure and high blood pressure. It works by slowing down the heart and relaxing blood vessels, making it easier for the heart to pump blood and lowering blood pressure. You might feel its effects quickly, within an hour, but a side effect can be a sudden drop in blood pressure if you stand up too fast.
Directions for Use
For how long do I take Carvedilol?
How long someone takes carvedilol depends entirely on their individual needs and how well it works for them. Doctors adjust the dose and how long treatment lasts based on each person's situation. There's no one-size-fits-all answer.
How do I dispose of Carvedilol?
If you can, bring unused medicines to a drug take-back program or collection site at a pharmacy or hospital. They will dispose of this medicine properly so it doesn't harm people or the environment. If you can't find a take-back program, you can throw most medicines in the trash at home. But first, take them out of their original containers, mix them with something undesirable like used coffee grounds, seal the mixture in a plastic bag, and throw it away.
How do I take Carvedilol?
Take carvedilol phosphate extended-release capsules once daily with food, as directed by your doctor. Swallow the capsules whole; do not crush or chew them.
How long does it take for Carvedilol to start working?
Carvedilol works differently depending on why you're taking it and how it's given. For high blood pressure, it starts lowering your blood pressure quickly—within an hour for some effects, and a half-hour for others. However, it takes about one to two weeks to reach its full blood pressure-lowering effect.
How should I store Carvedilol?
Keep carvedilol capsules in a cool place, below 77°F (25°C).
What is the usual dose of Carvedilol?
For adults, the usual starting dose of Carvedilol for heart failure is 3.125 mg twice daily, which can be increased to a maximum of 25 mg twice daily, depending on tolerance and weight. For hypertension, the starting dose is 6.25 mg twice daily, which can be increased to 25 mg twice daily. For children, the effectiveness and safety of Carvedilol have not been established, so it is not typically recommended for pediatric use. Always follow your doctor's advice for dosing.
Warnings and Precautions
Can Carvedilol be taken safely while breastfeeding?
There's no information about carvedilol in breast milk for humans. It's found in the milk of nursing rats, but the effects on nursing babies are unknown. Breastfeeding has many benefits, so weigh the advantages against any potential risks to the baby from carvedilol before making a decision.
Can Carvedilol be taken safely while pregnant?
Carvedilol should be used during pregnancy only if the benefits outweigh the risks. It may pose risks like fetal growth issues, neonatal hypoglycemia, or bradycardia, especially in the third trimester. Consult your doctor for personalized advice.
Can I take Carvedilol with other prescription drugs?
Carvedilol's effects on the body can be changed by other medicines. Some medicines, like amiodarone and cimetidine, make carvedilol levels higher in your blood, possibly needing a lower carvedilol dose. Other medicines, like rifampin, lower carvedilol levels, maybe requiring a higher dose. Similar effects happen with other drugs affecting how the body processes carvedilol. Also, carvedilol can raise digoxin levels, so doctors need to be careful when prescribing both together. Cyclosporine dosage may also need adjusting when taken with carvedilol.
Does Carvedilol have adverse effects?
Adverse effects, which are unwanted reactions to a medicine, can occur with empagliflozin. Common effects include urinary tract infections, affecting up to 9% of users, and genital yeast infections, especially in women. These can cause itching and unusual discharge. The drug may increase urination, leading to dehydration, which means your body lacks enough fluids and might cause dizziness. A rare but serious effect is ketoacidosis, which is a dangerous acid buildup in the blood and needs immediate medical attention. Severe allergic reactions, kidney problems, or Fournier's gangrene, which is a serious genital infection, are very rare. Always inform your doctor about any new or worsening symptoms while on empagliflozin.
Does Carvedilol have any safety warnings?
Empagliflozin has important safety warnings you should know about. This medication can increase your risk of diabetic ketoacidosis, which is a dangerous buildup of acids in your blood. This can happen even when your blood sugar is normal, especially if you miss insulin doses or get sick. If you experience nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, or breathing problems, get emergency help. Empagliflozin can cause dehydration, which means your body doesn't have enough fluids. This may lead to low blood pressure or kidney problems. Drink plenty of water while taking this medicine. Serious urinary tract infections, which are infections in the system that removes urine from your body, can occur. Watch for painful urination, fever, or back pain. Although rare, this medication can cause necrotizing fasciitis, which is a serious bacterial infection in the genital area requiring immediate medical attention. Genital yeast infections are common with empagliflozin. Regular foot care is important as this medicine may increase amputation risk in some patients. Stop taking the medicine and seek help if you develop signs of an allergic reaction.
Is Carvedilol addictive?
Empagliflozin is not addictive or habit-forming. This medication doesn't cause dependency or withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking it. Empagliflozin works by affecting your kidneys to help remove sugar through urine. This mechanism doesn't affect brain chemistry in ways that could lead to addiction. You won't experience cravings for this medication or feel compelled to take more than prescribed. Unlike some medications that can cause psychological or physical dependence, empagliflozin doesn't create these effects. If you have concerns about medication dependence, you can feel confident that empagliflozin doesn't carry this risk while managing your health condition.
Is Carvedilol safe for the elderly?
Older adults (65 and up) switching from one type of carvedilol (a blood pressure medicine) to another should start with a lower dose of the new type. This is because dizziness, fainting, or low blood pressure are more common in older people taking this medicine. Studies show this medicine works similarly in older and younger adults, but some older adults might be more sensitive to its side effects.
Is it safe to drink alcohol while taking Carvedilol?
Drinking alcohol while taking Carvedilol can increase the risk of side effects such as dizziness and lightheadedness, as both alcohol and Carvedilol can lower blood pressure. It is advisable to limit alcohol consumption and consult with your doctor for personalized advice on alcohol use while taking Carvedilol.
Is it safe to exercise while taking Carvedilol?
Carvedilol may cause fatigue and dizziness, which can affect your ability to exercise. However, it is generally used to improve heart function, which can enhance exercise capacity over time. If you experience significant limitations in your ability to exercise, consult your doctor for advice and possible adjustments to your treatment plan.
Is it safe to stop Carvedilol?
Stopping empagliflozin suddenly can cause serious problems for your health conditions. If you're taking it for type 2 diabetes, your blood sugar levels might rise quickly when you stop. For heart failure, which is when your heart can't pump blood effectively, or kidney disease, which is damage to organs that filter waste from your blood, stopping could make these conditions worse. A dangerous complication called diabetic ketoacidosis might occur if you suddenly stop taking empagliflozin. This condition, which causes harmful acids to build up in your blood, can cause nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, and breathing problems. This risk continues for several days after stopping the medication. Always talk with your doctor before stopping empagliflozin. They might suggest gradually reducing your dose or switching to a different medication to keep your condition under control. Your doctor will help you make any medication changes safely to protect your health.
What are the most common side effects of Carvedilol?
Side effects are unwanted reactions that can happen when taking a medication. With empagliflozin, these effects vary from person to person. The most common side effect is urinary tract infections, which affect about 8-9% of people taking this medication. Women may experience genital yeast infections, which occur in about 2-5% of female patients. Men can also get genital yeast infections, but this happens less frequently. Some people notice they urinate more often when taking empagliflozin, which happens in about 1-3% of patients. Upper respiratory infections, which affect your nose, throat, and airways, occur in about 4% of people taking this medication. If you notice new symptoms after starting empagliflozin, they might be temporary or unrelated to the medication. Talk with your doctor before stopping any medication.
Who should avoid taking Carvedilol?
Carvedilol is a heart medicine with some serious risks. It shouldn't be used by people with asthma, certain heart rhythm problems (slow heartbeat, etc.), severe liver problems, or allergies to it. Stopping it suddenly can be dangerous, so it must be stopped gradually under doctor's supervision. Watch out for dizziness, fatigue, fainting, low blood pressure, slow heart rate, or blood sugar changes; if you experience these, avoid driving or operating machinery.
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