What is Generic Coreg (Carvedilol)?
Generic Coreg (Carvedilol) is in a group of drugs called beta-blockers. Beta-blockers affect the heart and circulation (blood flow through arteries and veins).Generic Coreg (Carvedilol) is used to treat heart failure and hypertension (high blood pressure). It is also used to treat or prevent heart attack.Generic Coreg (Carvedilol) may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Important information about Generic Coreg (Carvedilol)
You should not take Generic Coreg (Carvedilol) if you are allergic to carvedilol, or 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).If you need to have any type of surgery, you may need to temporarily stop using Generic Coreg (Carvedilol). Be sure the surgeon knows ahead of time that you are using Generic Coreg (Carvedilol).Do not stop taking Generic Coreg (Carvedilol) without first talking to your doctor. Stopping suddenly may make your condition worse. This medication can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert. Avoid drinking alcohol within 2 hours before or after taking extended-release carvedilol (Generic Coreg (Carvedilol) CR). Also avoid taking medicines or other products that might contain alcohol. Alcohol may cause the carvedilol in Generic Coreg (Carvedilol) CR to be released too quickly into the body.
Generic Coreg (Carvedilol) is only part of a complete program of treatment for hypertension that may also include diet, exercise, and weight control. Follow your diet, medication, and exercise routines very closely if you are being treated for hypertension.Hypertension often has no symptoms, so you may not even feel that you have high blood pressure. Continue using this medicine as directed, even if you feel well. You may need to use blood pressure medication for the rest of your life.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Generic Coreg (Carvedilol)?
You should not take Generic Coreg (Carvedilol) if you are allergic to carvedilol, or if you have:asthma, bronchitis, emphysema;severe liver disease; ora serious heart condition such as heart block, sick sinus syndrome, or slow heart rate (unless you have a pacemaker).
Before taking Generic Coreg (Carvedilol), tell your doctor if you have:
diabetes (taking Generic Coreg (Carvedilol) can make it harder for you to tell when you have low blood sugar);low blood pressure;congestive heart failure;depression;kidney disease;a thyroid disorder;myasthenia gravis;pheochromocytoma; orproblems with circulation (such as Raynaud's syndrome).If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take this medication.
How should I take Generic Coreg (Carvedilol)?
Take Generic Coreg (Carvedilol) exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts or for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.Generic Coreg (Carvedilol) comes with patient instructions for safe and effective use. Follow these directions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.Take this medication with a full glass of water. Take Generic Coreg (Carvedilol) at the same time every day. Do not skip doses or stop taking Generic Coreg (Carvedilol) without first talking to your doctor. Stopping suddenly may make your condition worse.You may open the carvedilol extended-release capsule and sprinkle the medicine into a spoonful of applesauce to make swallowing easier. Swallow this mixture right away without chewing. Do not save the mixture for later use. Discard the empty capsule.If you are switched from Generic Coreg (Carvedilol) tablets to Generic Coreg (Carvedilol) extended-release capsules (Generic Coreg (Carvedilol) 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.To be sure this medication is helping your condition, your blood pressure will need to be checked on a regular basis. It is important that you not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.If you need to have any type of surgery, tell the surgeon that you are using Generic Coreg (Carvedilol). You may need to briefly stop using Generic Coreg (Carvedilol) before having surgery.Generic Coreg (Carvedilol) is only part of a complete program of treatment for hypertension that may also include diet, exercise, and weight control. Follow your diet, medication, and exercise routines very closely if you are being treated for hypertension.Hypertension often has no symptoms, so you may not even feel that you have high blood pressure. Continue using this medicine as directed, even if you feel well. You may need to use blood pressure medication for the rest of your life.
Store Generic Coreg (Carvedilol) 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 your next dose is less than 4 hours away, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.Overdose symptoms may include uneven heartbeats, shortness of breath, bluish-colored fingernails, dizziness, weakness, fainting, and seizure (convulsions).
What should I avoid while taking Generic Coreg (Carvedilol)?
Generic Coreg (Carvedilol) can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert. Avoid drinking alcohol within 2 hours before or after taking extended-release carvedilol (Generic Coreg (Carvedilol) CR). Also avoid taking medicines or other products that might contain alcohol.Alcohol may cause the carvedilol in Generic Coreg (Carvedilol) CR to be released too quickly into the body. Check the labels of any prescription or over-the-counter medicines you take to see if they contain alcohol (also called ethanol).Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Get up slowly and steady yourself to prevent a fall.
Side effects of Generic Coreg (Carvedilol):
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:slow or uneven heartbeats;feeling light-headed, fainting;feeling short of breath, even with mild exertion;swelling of your ankles or feet;nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);depression; orcold feeling in your hands and feet.
Less serious Generic Coreg (Carvedilol) side effects may include:
decreased sex drive, impotence, or difficulty having an orgasm;sleep problems (insomnia);tired feeling; oranxiety, nervousness.
What other drugs will affect Generic Coreg (Carvedilol)?
Before taking Generic Coreg (Carvedilol), tell your doctor if you are using:allergy treatments (or if you are undergoing allergy skin-testing);clonidine (Catapres);cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune);digoxin (digitalis, Lanoxin);fluconazole (Diflucan);guanabenz (Wytensin);rifampin (Rifadin, Rifater, Rifamate);insulin or diabetes medication you take by mouth;an antidepressant such as fluoxetine (Prozac) or paroxetine (Paxil);a beta blocker such as atenolol (Tenormin), esmolol (Brevibloc), labetalol (Normodyne, Trandate), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol), nadolol (Corgard), propranolol (Inderal, InnoPran), sotalol (Betapace), and others;an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), tranylcypromine (Parnate), phenelzine (Nardil), or selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam);a heart medication such as amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), quinidine (Quinidex, Quinaglute, Quin-Release), propafenone (Rythmol), nifedipine (Procardia, Adalat), reserpine (Serpasil), verapamil (Calan, Verelan, Isoptin), diltiazem (Cartia, Cardizem);medicine for asthma or other breathing disorders, such as albuterol (Ventolin, Proventil), bitolterol (Tornalate), metaproterenol (Alupent), pirbuterol (Maxair), terbutaline (Brethaire, Brethine, Bricanyl), and theophylline (Theo-Dur, Theolair); orcold medicines, stimulant medicines, or diet pills.
