Coreg - Talk Medical

Generic Name: carvedilol

Brands: Coreg

What is the most important information I should know about Coreg?

· Do not stop taking Coreg without first talking to your doctor. Stopping Coreg abruptly may cause your condition to become worse.

· Contact your doctor immediately if you experience signs of worsening heart failure such as shortness of breath, weight gain, or water retention.

· Use caution while driving or performing other hazardous activities. Coreg may cause drowsiness, dizziness, and blood pressure changes. Rise slowly from a sitting or lying position. If you become dizzy, remain sitting or lying down. Call your doctor if dizziness is persistent.

What is Coreg?

· Coreg is in a class of drugs called beta-blockers. Beta-blockers affect the heart and circulatory system (arteries and veins).

· Coreg is used to lower high blood pressure (hypertension).

· Coreg may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Coreg?

· Before taking Coreg, tell your doctor if you have ·asthma; ·a heart problem such as low blood pressure, a slow heart rate, heart block, sick sinus syndrome, a pacemaker, heart failure, and others; ·diabetes; ·depression; ·thyroid disease; ·kidney disease; ·liver disease; or ·any type of circulatory disease.

· You may not be able to take Coreg, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.

· Coreg is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known whether Coreg will be harmful to an unborn baby. Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment.

· It is not known whether Coreg passes into breast milk. Do not take Coreg without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take Coreg?

· Take Coreg exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.

· Take each dose with a full glass of water.

· Take Coreg with food to minimize dizziness.

· Take Coreg at the same time every day whenever possible.

· It is important to take Coreg regularly to get the most benefit.

· Do not stop taking Coreg without first talking to your doctor. Stopping Coreg abruptly may cause your condition to become worse.

· Your doctor may want you to have blood tests or other medical evaluations during treatment with Coreg to monitor progress and side effects.

· Store this medication at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

· Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, however, skip the missed dose and only take the next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this medication.

What happens if I overdose?

· Seek emergency medical attention if an overdose is suspected.

· Symptoms of a Coreg overdose include a slow heart beat, fainting, dizziness, weakness, confusion, seizures, nausea, and vomiting.

What should I avoid while taking this Coreg?

· Use alcohol cautiously. Alcohol may increase drowsiness and dizziness while taking this medication.

· Tell your doctor and dentist that you are taking Coreg before having surgery.

What are the possible side effects of Coreg?

· If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking Coreg and call your doctor immediately or seek emergency medical treatment: ·an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, face, or tongue; hives); ·wheezing or shortness of breath; ·an unusually slow or irregular heart beat; ·sudden weight gain (more than 2 pounds in one day or 5 pounds in one week); ·chest (heart) pain; ·swelling of the feet, ankles, or lower legs; or ·unusually cold or blue hands or feet.

· If you experience any of the following less serious side effects, continue taking Coreg and talk to your doctor: ·headache, fatigue, or dizziness; ·weak pulse or a mildly slow heart rate; ·diarrhea or abdominal pain; ·insomnia; or ·dryness of the eyes (this may be bothersome if you wear contact lenses).

· Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect Coreg?

· Before taking Coreg, talk to your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines: ·a heart medication such as nifedipine (Procardia, Adalat), reserpine (Serpasil), verapamil (Calan, Verelan, Isoptin), diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor XR), clonidine (Catapres), digoxin (Lanoxin), doxazosin (Cardura), guanadrel (Hylorel), prazosin (Minipress), or terazosin (Hytrin); ·a diabetes medication such as insulin, glyburide (Diabeta, Micronase, Glynase), glipizide (Glucotrol), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), or metformin (Glucophage); ·a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, others), naproxen (Aleve, Anaprox, Naprosyn, others), ketoprofen (Orudis, Orudis KT, Oruvail), and others; ·a respiratory medication such as albuterol (Ventolin, Proventil, Volmax, others), bitolterol (Tornalate), metaproterenol (Alupent, Metaprel), pirbuterol (Maxair), terbutaline (Brethaire, Brethine, Bricanyl), or theophylline (Theo-Dur, Theochron, Theolair, others), and others; ·the stomach medication cimetidine (Tagamet, Tagamet HB); or ·prescription or over-the-counter cough medicines, cold medicines, or diet pills.

· Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with Coreg or affect your condition. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products.

Where can I get more information?

· Your pharmacist has additional information about Coreg written for health professionals that you may read.