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Coreg CR

side effects drug center coreg cr (carvedilol phosphate extended-release) drug - patient side effects and images

Coreg CR Patient Information Including Side Effects

Brand Names: Coreg, Coreg CR

Generic Name: carvedilol

What is carvedilol (Coreg, Coreg CR)?

Carvedilol is a beta-blocker that is used to treat heart failure and hypertension (high blood pressure).

Carvedilol is also used after a heart attack that has caused your heart not to pump as well.

Carvedilol may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What are the possible side effects of carvedilol (Coreg, Coreg CR)?

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

  • a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
  • slow or uneven heartbeats;
  • cold feeling or numbness in your fingers or toes;
  • chest pain, dry cough, wheezing, chest tightness;
  • heart problems--swelling, rapid weight gain, feeling short of breath; or
  • high blood sugar--increased thirst, increased urination, dry mouth, fruity breath odor.

Common side effects may include:

  • dizziness;
  • slow heartbeats;
  • diarrhea;
  • weight gain;
  • dry eyes; or
  • problems wearing contact lenses.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What is the most important information I should know about carvedilol (Coreg, Coreg CR)?

You should not take carvedilol if you have asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, severe liver disease, or a serious heart condition such as heart block, "sick sinus syndrome," or slow heart rate (unless you have a pacemaker).

Coreg CR Patient Information including How Should I Take

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking carvedilol (Coreg, Coreg CR)?

You should not take carvedilol if you are allergic to it, or if you have:

  • asthma, bronchitis, emphysema;
  • severe liver disease; or
  • a serious heart condition such as severe heart failure, heart block, "sick sinus syndrome," or slow heart rate (unless you have a pacemaker).

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Carvedilol is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.

How should I take carvedilol (Coreg, Coreg CR)?

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Carvedilol works best if you take it with food, at the same time every day.

Swallow the extended-release capsule whole and do not crush, chew, break, or open it.

If you cannot swallow a capsule whole, open it and sprinkle the medicine into a spoonful of cold applesauce. Swallow the mixture right away without chewing. Do not save it for later use.

If you are switched from carvedilol tablets to carvedilol extended-release capsules (Coreg CR), your daily total dose of this medicine may be higher or lower than before. Older adults may be more likely to become dizzy or feel faint when switching from tablets to extended-release capsules. Follow your doctor's instructions.

Your blood pressure will need to be checked often.

If you need surgery (including cataract surgery), tell your surgeon you currently use this medicine. You may need to stop for a short time.

You should not stop using carvedilol suddenly. Stopping suddenly may cause chest pain or a heart attack. Follow your doctor's instructions about tapering your dose.

If you are being treated for high blood pressure, keep using this medication even if you feel well. High blood pressure often has no symptoms. You may need to use blood pressure medication for the rest of your life.

Carvedilol is only part of a complete treatment program that may also include diet, exercise, and weight control. Follow your doctor's instructions very closely.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Coreg CR Patient Information including If I Miss a Dose

What happens if I miss a dose (Coreg, Coreg CR)?

Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.

What happens if I overdose (Coreg, Coreg CR)?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Overdose symptoms may include uneven heartbeats, shortness of breath, bluish-colored fingernails, dizziness, weakness, fainting, and seizure (convulsions).

What should I avoid while taking carvedilol (Coreg, Coreg CR)?

Avoid driving or hazardous activity until you know how this medicine will affect you. Your reactions could be impaired. Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy.

What other drugs will affect carvedilol (Coreg, Coreg CR)?

Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medications at the same time. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you take, which may increase side effects or make the medications less effective.

Other drugs may affect carvedilol, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.

Where can I get more information (Coreg, Coreg CR)?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about carvedilol.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

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