Carvedilol

Carvedilol is an alpha and beta-receptor blocking agent that also has antioxidant properties. It also has complementary vasodilation actions, decreased cardiac output, anti-hypertensive (lowering of blood pressure), anti-anginal properties, and also has favorable effects on blood circulation at the heart level. Carvedilol is indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe symptomatic congestive heart failure (inability of the heart to perform its pumping function) of ischemic or non-ischemic origin.

Carvedilol is a non-selective vasodilator beta-blocking agent with antioxidant properties. It has been shown that vasodilation is achieved mainly through the selective blockade of alpha 1 adrenoreceptors.

Carvedilol reduces peripheral vascular resistance by vasodilation and suppresses the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system by beta-blockade. Plasma renin activity is reduced and fluid retention is rare.

Carvedilol lacks intrinsic sympathomimetic activity and, like propranolol, has membrane stabilizing properties.

Carvedilol is a racemic mixture of 2 stereoisomers. In animal models, both enantiomers have to block the properties of alpha-adrenergic receptors. The blocking properties of beta-adrenergic receptors are not selective for beta-1 and beta-2 adrenergic receptors and are associated with the levorotatory enantiomer of carvedilol.

Carvedilol is a powerful antioxidant and an oxygen-free radical scavenger. The antioxidant properties of carvedilol and its metabolites were demonstrated in in vitro and in vivo animal studies and in some in vitro human cell types.

Carvedilol tablets contain carvedilol as an active ingredient, which belongs to a group of medicines known as alpha and beta receptor blockers.

Carvedilol has antioxidant, antihypertensive (decreased blood pressure), vasodilatory, and antianginal properties. It also decreases cardiac output and has favorable effects on blood circulation at the level of the heart.

Carvedilol Tablets Uses & Benefits include being indicated for the treatment of:

• Symptomatic congestive heart failure (the heart has lost some of its ability to pump blood) of moderate to severe, of ischemic or non-ischemic origin.
• Essential hypertension (high blood pressure).
• Ischemic heart disease (little blood and oxygen get to the heart).

Always use this blood pressure medication (Carvedilol) exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. If in doubt, consult your doctor or pharmacist again.

The tablets should be ingested with a glass of water.

If you suffer from congestive heart failure, you should take Carvedilol with food to slow down its absorption rate and thus reduce the incidence of orthostatic effects (feeling dizzy when getting up).

The dose should be determined individually and you should be closely monitored by your doctor during adjustment to higher doses. You must strictly follow your doctor's instructions regarding the way this medicine is given.

If you are taking another medication, your doctor should establish the treatment.

The recommended dose for the start of treatment with Carvedilol is a one-half tablet (3,125 mg) twice a day for two weeks. If this dose is tolerated, it can be subsequently increased to 1 tablet (6.25 mg) twice a day.

Your doctor may prescribe higher doses of this medicine later (after at least two weeks).

Your doctor will indicate the duration of your treatment with Carvedilol.

Withdrawal of Carvedilol 6.25 mg should be gradual over a few days, or by resorting to the practice of halving the dose every three days.

Like all medicines, Carvedilol can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

Adverse effects are classified as: very common (affects more than 1 in 10 patients), frequent (affects between 1 and 10 in 100 patients), infrequent (affects between 1 and 10 in 1,000 patients), rare (affects 1 to 10 in 10,000 patients), very rare (affects less than 1 in 10,000 patients) and isolated cases.

Very common: headache, dizziness, fatigue, and weakness, which are usually mild and occur mainly at the beginning of treatment.

Common: postural hypotension (changes in blood pressure with body position), bradycardia (decreased frequency of heartbeat), hypotension (low blood pressure) and edema (fluid retention), asthma and difficulty breathing in predisposed patients, gastrointestinal complaints with symptoms such as nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal pain, hyperglycaemia in patients with previously existing diabetes mellitus (increased amount of sugar in the blood) and hypercholesterolemia (increased cholesterol in the blood), pain in the extremities, decreased tearing, eye irritation, and vision abnormalities.

Uncommon: depressed mood, sleep disorders and paresthesias (tingling sensation), syncope (fainting), especially early in treatment, peripheral circulation disorders (cold hands and feet), increased symptoms in patients with claudication intermittent (increased pain in the legs when walking) or Raynaud's phenomenon (decreased blood in the fingers, toes, ears, and nose), peripheral edema (swelling of the legs, ankles, and feet), AV block (heart problems), increased heart failure (the heart has lost some of its ability to pump blood) and angina (chest area pain), constipation and vomiting, skin reactions, and sexual impotence.

Rare: Nasal obstruction, acute kidney failure (kidney does not work well), dry mouth, and urination disorders (urination problems).

Very rare: alterations in serum transaminases (changes in the number of certain liver enzymes in the blood), thrombocytopenia (reduction in the number of platelets in the blood) and leukopenia (reduction in the number of white blood cells in the blood), allergic reactions and incontinence urinary in women (this adverse effect disappears when you stop taking the medication).

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Carvedilol oral tablets can interact with other medications, potentially resulting in serious health complications. The list of medications that may cause interactions includes:

• Heart rhythm drugs such as amiodarone, bretylium, quinidine, digoxin, disopyramide, and sotalol
• Using other blood pressure medications or beta-blockers (acebutolol, atenolol, bisoprolol) or calcium channel blockers (diltiazem or verapamil)
• Carvedilol taken alongside diabetic medications may further lower blood sugar levels
• Taking carvedilol with cyclosporine may increase the levels of Cyclosporine in the body.

Apart from controlling blood pressure, Carvediolol can also be used to treat other conditions.

In terms of heart failure, 3.125 mg should be taken twice daily continuously for two weeks. You may be prescribed higher dosages, 25 mg to 50 mg twice a day, depending on your weight.

For Angina, 12.5 mg is usually prescribed twice daily for two days and can be increased to 2 mg, also taken twice daily.