Carvedilol is a generic drug that’s prescribed for high blood pressure and other heart conditions in adults. As with other drugs, carvedilol can cause side effects, such as low blood pressure and slow heart rate.

Carvedilol is available as the brand-name drug Coreg.

The active ingredient in carvedilol is carvedilol. Carvedilol comes as an oral tablet. Carvedilol also comes as an extended-release capsule, but this article does not cover this form. (“Extended-release” means the drug is slowly released from the capsule into your body over time.)

Read on to learn about the potential common, mild, and serious side effects of carvedilol. For additional information about carvedilol, including details about its uses, see this carvedilol overview article.

Carvedilol can cause certain side effects, some of which are more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

These are just a few of the more common side effects reported by people who took carvedilol in clinical trials. These side effects can vary depending on which condition the drug is being used to treat.

More common side effects in people taking carvedilol for heart failure or following a heart attack include:

Note: These side effects, except diarrhea, were also commonly reported by people who received a placebo (pill with no active drug) in these studies for heart failure or following a heart attack.

More common side effects in people taking carvedilol for high blood pressure include:

  • dizziness
  • slow heart rate
  • low blood pressure when sitting or standing up*

It’s important to note that, in studies of people taking carvedilol for high blood pressure, side effects were not common. The side effects above were more common compared to other side effects, but most people taking carvedilol for high blood pressure did not experience these effects.

* For more information about this side effect, see “Carvedilol: Side effect specifics.”

Mild side effects can occur with carvedilol use. This list doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to carvedilol’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects that have been reported with carvedilol include:

  • abnormal vision, such as blurry vision
  • dizziness
  • headache
  • fatigue
  • diarrhea
  • nausea and vomiting
  • shortness of breath
  • weakness
  • unexplained weight gain
  • mild slow heart rate*

These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews the side effects of the medication. If you develop a side effect while taking carvedilol and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch.

* For more information about this side effect, see “Carvedilol: Side effect specifics.”

Carvedilol may cause serious side effects. The list below may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to carvedilol’s prescribing information.

If you develop serious side effects while taking carvedilol, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects that have been reported and their symptoms include:

  • high blood sugar (hyperglycemia), in people who have heart failure and diabetes and take carvedilol; symptoms may include:
    • needing to urinate more frequently
    • excessive thirst
  • worsened kidney function, in people with heart failure who take carvedilol; symptoms may include:
    • urinating less frequently
    • swelling in your legs
  • low blood pressure*
  • severely slow heart rate*
  • serious side effects if you suddenly stop taking carvedilol*

* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics.”

ALLERGIC REACTION

For some people, carvedilol oral tablet can cause an allergic reaction.

In general, symptoms of an allergic reaction can be mild or serious.

Ways to manage

For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep taking the medication.

For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to carvedilol [form], your doctor may recommend taking a different medication instead.

Carvedilol may cause several side effects. Here are some frequently asked questions about the drug’s side effects and their answers.

What are the long-term side effects of carvedilol?

Carvedilol can cause long-term side effects. Long-term side effects may refer to side effects that start at any time during treatment with a drug, even if you’ve taken it for a long time. It can also refer to side effects that may not go away, even after you stop taking the medication.

Some long-term side effects reported in studies of carvedilol include:

  • high blood sugar (hyperglycemia), which may happen at any time in people with diabetes who take carvedilol
  • slow heart rate*; this can occur at any time during treatment but may go away once you stop taking carvedilol
  • worsened kidney function, in people with heart failure who take carvedilol; this side effect can happen at any time you’re taking carvedilol
  • low blood pressure*; this side effect can occur at any time during carvedilol treatment
  • increased blood sugar levels, especially in people with both heart failure and diabetes

If you’d like to learn more about how long side effects of carvedilol may last, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics.”

Does carvedilol cause different side effects in older adults?

No, carvedilol isn’t expected to cause different side effects in older adults (age 65 years and above). In studies, side effects reported in older and younger adults were similar.

However, older adults who took carvedilol to treat high blood pressure were more likely to report dizziness as a side effect compared to younger adults. And, older adults are more likely to have other medical conditions, such as a kidney or liver condition, which may affect your risk for side effects from taking carvedilol.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you’d like to learn more about your risk for side effects of carvedilol based on your age or other factors.

Learn more about some of the side effects that carvedilol may cause. To find out how often side effects occurred in clinical trials, see the prescribing information for carvedilol.

Low blood pressure

Low blood pressure (hypotension) was a common side effect reported in studies of carvedilol. In these studies, low blood pressure was more likely during the first 30 days of carvedilol treatment. But it can happen at any time, even after taking carvedilol for a long time.

Low blood pressure may be mild or serious. Carvedilol can cause a type of low blood pressure called orthostatic hypotension, which can result in serious injury or other complications. Orthostatic hypotension is low blood pressure that happens when you stand or sit up, which can cause fainting. This can result in falls, which can cause a concussion, broken bones, or other injury.

Symptoms of low blood pressure include:

  • fatigue
  • feeling dizzy or lightheaded
  • depression
  • clammy skin
  • nausea

What you can do

To lower the risk for this side effect, doctors typically start treatment by prescribing a low carvedilol dose. Then, they’ll slowly increase your dose over time as needed to treat your condition. When first starting treatment, your doctor may also advise you to avoid driving or other activities where fainting could result in serious harm, until you know how carvedilol will affect you.

Another tip for lowering your risk for low blood pressure as a side effect is to take your carvedilol dose with food.

Slow heart rate

Slow heart rate (bradycardia) was a common side effect reported in studies of carvedilol. Slow heart rate caused by carvedilol may be mild or serious, but mild symptoms are more common.

Symptoms of slow heart rate can include:

  • fatigue
  • feeling dizzy or lightheaded
  • shortness of breath
  • tiring quickly during exercise
  • weakness

What you can do

Carvedilol works in part by slowing your heart rate. So this effect isn’t entirely unexpected, but it can become problematic.

If you’re experiencing symptoms of bradycardia while taking carvedilol, let your doctor know. They may decide to prescribe a lower carvedilol dosage to you.

Serious side effects if you suddenly stop taking carvedilol

Serious side effects, including heart attack, can happen if you suddenly stop taking carvedilol and have coronary artery disease (CAD). It’s not clear whether these side effects happened in studies of carvedilol, but they have been reported since the drug was approved.

Serious side effects that can happen if you suddenly stop taking carvedilol include:

What you can do

Because CAD frequently doesn’t cause symptoms, many people are unaware they have this condition. Due to this, anyone taking carvedilol should not suddenly stop treatment on their own.

If you and your doctor decide you’ll stop taking carvedilol, your doctor will slowly lower your dose over time. This is typically done over 1 to 2 weeks, but your doctor will determine a dose reduction plan that’s safest for you until you can safely stop taking carvedilol.

Below is important information you should consider before taking Carvedilol.

Precautions

Before taking carvedilol, discuss your health history with your doctor. Carvedilol may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. Be sure to talk with your doctor if any of the following apply to you:

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.