Before you begin using a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should use this medication.
Diabetes: This medication may make it more difficult for people with diabetes to control their blood sugar. Your doctor will monitor you while you are taking this medication and may need to adjust the doses of antidiabetes medications.
Dizziness/fainting: Dizziness and fainting are side effects of carvedilol and may occur after first starting this medication. Do not drive a car or do anything that requires alertness until you know how this medication affects you.
Heart failure: Beta-blockers like carvedilol can worsen existing heart failure. It is important to take carvedilol exactly as prescribed by your doctor to decrease the chance of this happening.
Kidney or liver function: If you have reduced kidney or liver function, discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.
Low blood pressure: Occasionally, blood pressure drops too low after taking this medication. This usually happens after the first or second dose or when the dose is increased. To reduce the risk of dizziness, get up slowly from a lying or sitting position. If low blood pressure causes you to faint or feel lightheaded, contact your doctor.
Prinzmetal's angina: Carvedilol may increase the number and duration of angina attacks in patients with Prinzmetal's angina. Therefore, people how have this condition should be cautious while taking carvedilol.
Primary regurgitative valvular heart disease: Carvedilol should be use with caution in patients with this condition.
Severe allergies: People with allergies severe enough to cause anaphylaxis (a severe allergic reaction where swelling of the face, lips, and throat make it difficult to breathe) should talk to their doctor about what to do if they have an allergic reaction. Carvedilol may make it more difficult to treat their allergic reaction with epinephrine.
Stopping the medication: People with heart disease who stop taking this medication abruptly may experience severe effects, such as chest pain, irregular heartbeat, or heart attack. If you have heart disease, do not stop taking this medication without checking with your doctor first. When this medication needs to be stopped, it should be done gradually under supervision of your doctor.
Thyroid: If you have a thyroid condition, discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.
Pregnancy: The medication should not be used during pregnancy unless the benefits outweigh the risks. If you become pregnant while taking this medication, contact your doctor immediately.
Breast-feeding: It is not known if carvedilol passes into human breast milk. If you are a breast-feeding mother and are taking this medication, it may affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about whether you should continue breast-feeding.
Children: The safety and effectiveness of using this medication have not been established for children.