Generic Carvedilol i.e. Coreg is a combination of two classes of drugs called beta-blockers and alpha-blockers. Carvedilol is used for treating high blood pressure and congestive heart failure. It is related to labetalol Normodyne Trandate. Carvedilol blocks receptors of the adrenergic nervous system the system of nerves in which epinephrine adrenalin is active. Nerves from the adrenergic system enter the heart and release an adrenergic chemical norepinephrine that attaches to receptors on the hearts muscle and stimulates the muscle to beat more rapidly and forcefully.

By blocking the receptors Carvedilol reduces the hearts rate and force of contraction and thereby reduces the work of the heart. Carvedilol also blocks adrenergic receptors on arteries and causes the arteries to relax and the blood pressure to fall. The drop in blood pressure further reduces the work of the heart since it is easier to pump blood against a lower pressure.

The FDA first approved Carvedilol in 1995.

However, before taking Carvedilol i.e. Coreg medication, ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer’s information for the patient and read it carefully. Talk to your doctor about all the possible risks of taking Coreg medication. However, Coreg may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide. Hence, for more information, consult your doctor and your medical pharmacist.

Follow the directions given by the doctor exactly for the usage of the Coreg i.e. Carvedilol medication and also read the prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand.

Generic Carvedilol usually is given twice daily. For high blood pressure the dose may range from 6.25mg twice daily to a maximum of 25mg twice daily. For congestive heart failure the dose may range from 3.25mg twice daily to a maximum of 25mg twice daily in persons weighing less than 85kg 187 pounds or 50mg twice daily in persons weighing more than 85kg 187 pounds. Carvedilol i.e. Coreg should be taken with food since this increase the amount of absorbed drug that reaches the heart and arteries. Stopping and changing doses of Carvedilol should be done under the direction of a physician since sudden changes in dose can result in serious cardiac complications such as arrhythmias.

If you wish to use the medication for your children, please contact your pediatrician for the dosage.

If you notice any of the symptoms, which seem severe or persistent to you, please contact your doctor immediately. However, your doctor may need to monitor you carefully for side effects and alter the doses if necessary.

The most common side effects of Carvedilol are dizziness, edema, fluid accumulation, decreased heart rate, diarrhea and postural hypotension, a rapid decrease in blood pressure when going from the seated to the standing position that causes light-headedness and/or fainting. Taking Carvedilol with food minimizes the risk of postural hypotension. Other common side effects of Carvedilol are irregular heart rhythm and abnormalities of vision. Carvedilol should be used cautiously in patients who use diuretics or who are elderly or have cirrhosis, asthma, peripheral vascular disease, hyperthyroidism, Prinzmetals variant angina and kidney disease.

Inform your doctor if you experience any of these side effects or some new side effects occur which appear too bothersome to you.

Inform your doctor if you are allergic to the formulation of this medication or any other medication in any other form and also inform your doctor about any other medication you may be taking in any other form, as they may affect the way your medicine works.
Carvedilol can mask early warning symptoms of hypoglycemia low blood sugar such as tremors and increased heart rate. These symptoms are caused by activation of the adrenergic nervous system which is blocked by the Carvedilol. Therefore diabetics taking medications that lower blood sugar such as insulin or oral anti-diabetic medications may need to increase the frequency with which they monitor their blood sugar.

Carvedilol taken with calcium channel blockers such as diltiazem i.e. Cardizem or verapamil i.e. Calan may trigger an irregular heart rhythm or an increase in blood pressure. Reserpine, monoamine oxidase inhibitors i.e. phenelzine or isocarboxazid and clonidine i.e. Catapres because they have similar mechanisms of action as Carvedilol, may greatly accentuate the effects of Carvedilol and cause a steep decline in blood pressure and/or heart rate. Close monitoring of blood pressure and heart rate may be needed.

Carvedilol may cause an increase in digoxin i.e. Lanoxin blood levels. Therefore, in patients receiving digoxin, the digoxin blood level should be monitored if Carvedilol is started adjusted or discontinued. Rifampin i.e. Rifadin can sharply decrease the Carvedilol blood level. Therefore, in patients taking rifampin, the dose of Carvedilol may need to be increased.

Carvedilol shares a common pathway for elimination by the liver with several other drugs such as quinidine i.e. Quinaglute, fluoxetine i.e. Prozac, paroxetine i.e. Paxil or propafenone i.e. Rythmol. Use of these drugs may block the elimination of Carvedilol. No studies have been done to confirm these effects on the elimination of Carvedilol however Carvedilol blood levels may be increased along with the risk for Carvedilol side effects if patients are taking any of these drugs.

Carvedilol may increase the levels in the blood of cyclosporine i.e. Sandimmune, Neoral and the dose cyclosporine may need to be adjusted when the two drugs are used together.

Moreover, Coreg i.e. Carvedilol may also interact with some kind of foods, varied medications, herbal products, nutritional supplements, vitamins, other OTC medicines etc. Acquire more information about the interactions of the Coreg medication from your doctor and the medical pharmacists.

In case of overdose call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222.
If the suffering patient has collapsed or is not breathing call local emergency services at 911. Canadian residents should call their local poison control center directly.

Do not allow any other person to use your medication without getting doctor’s prescription themselves and also avoid using this medicine for other health conditions on your own. Keep the medicine away from the children and pets.

Also inform your doctor, if you are pregnant or are breast feeding. If you conceive during the course, inform your doctor immediately. Do not share your medicines with anyone, even if they have the same symptoms, for it may harm them. Do not begin, increase, decrease, or stop using this medicine on your own.

Remember, it is very important to keep regular appointments with your doctor to study the way your body is responding to the course. And if you are going to have a surgery, tell your health care professional that you are taking Coreg medication.

However, if your pulse is faster or slower than it should be, call your doctor. You need to keep all appointments with your doctor. And alcoholic beverages are best avoided during the course of this medication.

And in case, if you wish to use the medicine in children, please contact your pediatrician for sure before its use.

If you missed the dose, do take the medicine immediately provided that there is ample of time in between the next dose. However, if it is almost time for the next dose skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Never double your doses to cope up with the missed. And in case, if you miss your one or two consecutive doses consult to your doctor or physician for guidance and continue further.

Generic Coreg i.e. Carvedilol medication is used by itself or with a diuretic water-pill to control high blood pressure. Carvedilol also may be used in combination with other drugs to manage mild or moderate congestive heart failure. When combined with other treatments for heart disease among patients with recent heart attacks Carvedilol can reduce the risk of a second heart attack by 40 and increase survival among patients with congestive heart failure.

However, it may also be used to treat some other medical conditions which may be determined by your doctor accordingly and consult a pediatrician for the use of this medication in children.

The generic Coreg i.e. Carvedilol medication may be prescribed for other uses also, so ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information about the Coreg i.e. Carvedilol medication.

Generic Coreg i.e. Carvedilol tablets should be stored in between 59-86°F and between 15-30°C in a cool and dry place. Keep the medicine in the container, it came in and always keep it tightly closed. Check Expiry date without fail. Keep all medicines away from women, newborns, children and pets. Do not freeze in any case. Also, keep it away from heat, dampness and direct light. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down. When the medicine is not in use or outdated it should be discarded. Take help of your pharmacist in disposing this medicine properly. In any case, do not store the Coreg tablets in the bathroom.

Following precautions must be taken during consuming generic Coreg i.e. Carvedilol:

1. Inform your doctor if you have or have ever had: kidney disease, lung disease, liver disease, heart disease, diabetes, low or high blood pressure, asthma, heart attack or any other severe disease etc. Also inform, if you drink alcoholic beverages or smoke.

2. Also acknowledge your doctor if you need to undergo any kind of surgery, including dental surgery or need an x-ray procedure that uses contrast agents. So, inform your doctors immediately about it, so that the doctor can decide whether to continue taking Coreg medication or stop it during the surgery.

3. Let the doctor also know, if you are in-taking or are planning to take any prescribed or non prescribed medicines, health supplements or any other OTC medications, vitamins etc.

4. Do not use the Coreg i.e. Carvedilol medication, if you have any kind of allergy to it or to any ingredients of it and tell your doctor or pharmacist about the allergy and get treated.

5. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breast feeding before taking Coreg medication. Hence also, inform your doctor immediately when you plan to conceive, or become pregnant during the course.

6. Do not share the drug with others unless they are prescribed by the doctor themselves. And if your symptoms of side effects do not improve in few weeks or if they become worse and bothersome, check these conditions immediately with your doctor.

7. Please, use the Coreg medicine in the prescribed amount and do not overdose it or use it for the longer period of time. Do not discontinue on your own and consult your doctor before doing so to avoid further problems.

8. Regularly, keep your appointments with your doctor and keep an eye on the progress or side effects that has been noticed during the complete course. And also wear disease medical alert identification for high blood pressure.

9. Also, avoid smoking and consuming alcohol and alcohol containing beverages during the complete course to achieve good results.

10. If you are diabetic inform your doctor you are taking this medication, as it affects blood sugar levels.

11. Keep a regular check on your pulse rate, blood pressure and weight. Do not stop taking this medication all of a sudden, as it could lead to serious heart related effects.

12. For more information, contact your doctor and your pharmacists and also discuss the risks and benefits of the generic Coreg.