Carvedilol 12.5mg

Carvedilol general information

What is Carvedilol used for?

Carvedilol tablets 12.5mg are used to treat a variety of conditions of the cardiovascular system.  These include, control of hypertension (high blood pressure) by lowering blood pressure to reduce the risk of complications such as stroke and heart attack; and management of stable angina (chest pain) in patients with heart disease, where there is not enough oxygen getting to the heart.  Carvedilol tablets 12.5mg are also used to treat stable symptomatic mild, moderate and severe chronic heart failure, in conjunction with other medications, by helping weakened heart muscles pump more efficiently; also for long-term treatment of heart failure following a recent heart attack.  Carvedilol tablets 12.5mg work through a common mechanism in several different body systems to manage the condition and relieve symptoms by reducing heart rate (pulse), workload on the heart (force needed to pump) and oxygen demand by the heart, which increases blood flow and lowers blood pressure.

How does Carvedilol work?

Carvedilol tablets 12.5mg contain carvedilol, which is a non-selective beta-blocker and acts as a beta₁ and beta₂ receptor antagonist, with some action as an alpha-receptor antagonist.  Carvedilol in Carvedilol tablets 12.5mg works by blocking the action of chemicals called catecholamines, such as adrenaline and noradrenaline (epinephrine and nor epinephrine), which are released by the adrenal glands in response to nerve stimulation during physical and mental stress.  Adrenaline works by stimulating beta-receptors in the heart, which increases heart rate and causes constriction (narrowing) of blood vessels.  Carvedilol in Carvedilol tablets 12.5mg blocks the beta-receptors in the heart, to slow heart rate and reduce the force needed to pump blood around the body, which means that the heart needs less oxygen.  This action relieves the pain of angina which is caused by increased workload and lack of oxygen to the heart on exertion.  Carvedilol in Carvedilol tablets 12.5mg also blocks alpha-receptors found in peripheral blood vessel walls, and this causes them to relax and widen (vasodilation), reducing the resistance to blood flow.  The combined action of alpha and beta blockade reduces the force needed by the heart to pump blood, which increases blood flow and oxygen to the heart, while at the same time reducing resistance to blood circulating in peripheral vessels.  This helps lower blood pressure; as well as helping the heart pump more efficiently.  Carvedilol in Carvedilol tablets 12.5mg is also a potent antioxidant and a scavenger of reactive oxygen radicals, reducing oxidative stress, which is thought to be involved in the pathophysiology of heart disease.  Carvedilol tablets 12.5mg lower blood pressure, reducing risk of stroke and heart attack and relieve symptoms of congestive heart failure, by reducing breathlessness on exertion due to weakened heart muscles. 

What does Carvedilol contain?

Carvedilol tablets 12.5mg contain active ingredient carvedilol, a non-selective beta-blocker and alpha-blocker that is used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure), heart failure and angina.  They also contain lactose microcrystalline, cellulose, crospovidone, povidone, colloidal anhydrous silica, magnesium stearate, iron oxide yellow, iron oxide red.

Treating high blood pressure (hypertension) with Carvedilol

Carvedilol tablets 12.5mg contain carvedilol, a non-selective beta-blocker and alpha-blocker that is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension).  Carvedilol in Carvedilol tablets 12.5mg acts by blocking the action of chemicals called catecholamines, such as adrenaline (epinephrine), which are released by the adrenal glands in response to nerve stimulation during physical and mental stress.  Adrenaline works by stimulating beta-receptors in the heart, which increases heart rate and causes constriction (narrowing) of blood vessels.  Carvedilol in Carvedilol tablets 12.5mg blocks the beta-receptors in the heart, which slows heart rate and reduces the force needed to pump blood around the body; it also blocks the alpha receptors in peripheral blood vessels, which allows them to relax and widen (vasodilation) reducing peripheral resistance to blood flow.  These actions of Carvedilol tablets 12.5mg lower blood pressure reducing the risk of complications such as stroke and heart attack, due to high blood pressure. 

Treating heart failure with Carvedilol

Carvedilol tablets 12.5mg contain carvedilol, a non-selective beta-blocker and alpha-blocker that is used to treat stable symptomatic mild, moderate and severe chronic heart failure; also for long-term treatment of heart failure following a recent heart attack, in conjunction with other medications.  Carvedilol in Carvedilol tablets 12.5mg binds to the beta receptors in the heart to reduce heart rate and widen blood vessels which reduces the force needed for the heart to pump blood around the body.  Carvedilol in Carvedilol tablets 12.5mg is also a potent antioxidant and a scavenger of reactive oxygen radicals, reducing oxidative stress, which is thought to be involved in the pathophysiology of heart disease.  These actions of carvedilol in Carvedilol tablets 12.5mg help weakened heart muscle to cope better and work more efficiently to reduce symptoms such as breathlessness on exertion.  You may also be prescribed a diuretic to help get rid of excess water that is retained in the body tissues and can cause swelling (oedema), as a result of congestive heart failure.  

Carvedilol for angina

Carvedilol tablets 12.5mg contain carvedilol, a non-selective beta-blocker and alpha-blocker that is used to treat stable angina in patients with heart disease, where there is not enough oxygen getting to the heart and this causes chest pain.  Carvedilol in Carvedilol tablets 12.5mg blocks the beta-receptors in the heart, to slow heart rate and reduce the force needed to pump blood around the body, which means that the heart needs less oxygen.  This action of carvedilol in Carvedilol tablets 12.5mg reduces workload on the heart, which relieves the pain of angina caused by lack of oxygen to the heart on exertion.  

What are the side effects of Carvedilol?

The most commonly reported side effects when taking Carvedilol tablets 12.5mg include dizziness, headache, feeling weak and tired (asthenia), hypotension (low blood pressure), slow heart beat (bradycardia), Syncope (fainting),weight gain, hypercholesterolaemia (high cholesterol), oedema (water retention with swollen ankles), nausea, diarrhoea, and vomiting, dyspepsia (heartburn), abdominal pain, visual disturbances, reduced tear formation and dry eyes, eye irritation, breathing problems, respiratory infection, urinary tract infection, peripheral pain, depressed mood.

When should Carvedilol not be used?

You should not use Carvedilol tablets 12.5mg if you:

• are allergic to carvedilol or any ingredients in Carvedilol
• are pregnant or are breastfeeding, without discussion with your doctor
• have severe liver disease
• have a history of obstructive lung disorder, bronchial asthma or bronchospasm
• are diabetic and taking hypoglycaemic therapy, without discussion with your doctor as carvedilol may prolong the hypoglycaemic response to insulin
• have, poor peripheral blood circulation, low blood pressure (hypotension), uncontrolled heart failure and certain other heart problems
• have a phaeochromocytoma (a rare tumour of the adrenal gland) which is not already being treated with other medicines
• have a type of angina called Prinzmetal’s variant angina
• have problems with fluid retention that requires intravenous medication
• are taking medicines that interact with Carvedilol including other medicines for high blood pressure; angina or an irregular heart beat such as calcium channel blockers (diltiazem, verapamil, and nifedipine), monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) for depression, clonidine for high blood pressure, the immunosuppressant cyclosporine, insulin or metformin for diabetes, the antibiotic rifampicin, cimetidine for reflux and ulcers, digoxin for heart failure, antiarrhythmics like amiodarone,

What medications interact with Carvedilol?

Several medications interact with Carvedilol tablets 12.5mg and should either not be taken while you are taking Carvedilol or only after discussion and instruction from your doctor:

• Drugs that cause a serious reaction with Carvedilol: monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) for depression, antiarrhythmics like amiodarone
• Drugs that affect Carvedilol: other medicines for high blood pressure; angina or an irregular heart beat such as calcium channel blockers (diltiazem, verapamil, and nifedipine), clonidine for high blood pressure, the antibiotic rifampicin, cimetidine for reflux and ulcers
• Drugs that are affected by Carvedilol: the immunosuppressant cyclosporine, insulin or metformin for diabetes, digoxin for heart failure

How should Carvedilol be taken?

You should take your Carvedilol tablets 12.5mg swallowed whole with a glass of water, once or twice daily, with or without food, unless you are being treated for heart failure then you should take your tablets with food.  The dose you take and how often depends on what you are being treated for, and your doctor may gradually increase your dose until you reach the optimum dose for your condition.  You should continue to take your Carvedilol tablets 12.5mg for as long as recommended by your doctor, which may be for several weeks or longer and if you are advised to stop taking them, withdrawal should be gradual and treatment should not be discontinued abruptly.   

How long should you take Carvedilol?

You should continue to take your Carvedilol tablets 12.5mg for as long as recommended by your doctor, which may be for several weeks or longer and if you are advised to stop taking them, withdrawal should be gradual and treatment should not be discontinued abruptly.  

Missed dose of Carvedilol

If you miss a dose of Carvedilol tablets 12.5mg take it as soon as you remember, unless it is time to take the next dose, then skip the missed dose.  Do not take a double dose.

How should Carvedilol be stored?

You should store your Carvedilol tablets 12.5mg below 25°C in a cool dry place.