What Is Carvedilol?

Carvedilol, also known by its brand names Coreg and Coreg CR, is a drug used to treat high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, and heart attack. Carvedilol belongs to a class of medications called beta-blockers. Beta-blockers help the heart work more efficiently and reduce the force of blood against the vessel walls in your body. The drug also has other cardiovascular benefits, such as reducing the risk of increased blood pressure and heart attack.

How Does Carvedilol Work?

Carvedilol works by blocking the adrenaline and hormones (epinephrine and norepinephrine) that cause your blood vessels to narrow. By blocking these hormones, Carvedilol helps to relax the blood vessels, lowers blood pressure and increases the amount of time it takes for the heart to beat. This helps to reduce the strain on the heart muscle, which helps it to work more efficiently. In some cases, Carvedilol can also help reduce the risk of death from congestive heart failure.

What Are the Benefits of Carvedilol?

Taking Carvedilol can help reduce the risk of stroke, heart attack, and other cardiovascular diseases. Carvedilol is also used to treat high blood pressure and congestive heart failure. It is also used to reduce the risk of a second heart attack. In some cases, Carvedilol may also reduce the risk of sudden cardiac death. Depending on your particular health situation, your doctor may recommend taking Carvedilol in combination with other medications.

Carvedilol can have mild to serious side effects. Common side effects may include fatigue, dizziness, low blood pressure, and increased heart rate. More serious side effects can include heart rhythm problems, depression, and decreased blood supply to the heart. It is important to talk to your doctor before starting Carvedilol to make sure it is the right medication for you.