Coreg Side Effects

Adverse effects are possible when taking Coreg. Side effects that were most commonly reported when using the drug for congestive heart failure or following a heart attack included dizziness, low blood pressure, and high blood sugar. The most common side effects seen in people with high blood pressure include insomnia, dizziness, and low heart rate. If you develop serious Coreg side effects, such as difficulty breathing or swallowing, seek immediate medical attention.

 

Coreg Side Effects: An Overview

As with any medicine, side effects are possible with Coreg® (carvedilol). However, not everyone who takes the medicine will experience side effects. In fact, most people tolerate Coreg quite well. If side effects do occur, they are generally minor and either require no treatment or can easily be treated by you or a healthcare provider. Serious side effects are less common, but can still occur.
 
(The Coreg side effects discussed below are not a complete list of reported side effects. Your healthcare provider can discuss a more complete list with you.)
 

Common Coreg Side Effects

Coreg has been studied extensively in people with
 high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, and a recent heart attack. In these clinical studies, side effects are always documented and compared to those that occurred in a similar group of people not taking the medicine.
 
Congestive Heart Failure
Based on these studies, the most common Coreg side effects seen in people with mild, moderate, or severe congestive heart failure or following a heart attack include:
 
  • Dizziness -- up to 32 percent of people
  • Low blood pressure -- up to 14 percent
  • Diarrhea -- up to 12 percent
  • High blood sugar (hyperglycemia) -- up to 12 percent (see Coreg and Blood Sugar)
  • Increase in weight -- up to 12 percent (see Coreg and Weight Gain)
  • Slow heart rate -- up to 10 percent
  • Nausea -- up to 9 percent.
     
Other common side effects of Coreg (occurring in more than 3 percent of people with congestive heart failure or those following a heart attack) include but are not limited to:
 
  • Swelling of the arms, legs, hands, or feet
  • Shortness of breath
  • Vomiting
  • Fainting (syncope)
  • Changes in vision
  • Anemia.
     
High Blood Pressure
The most common Coreg side effects seen in people with high blood pressure include:
 
  • Dizziness -- up to 6 percent
  • Insomnia -- up to 2 percent
  • Slow heart rate -- up to 2 percent
  • Drop in blood pressure when standing from either a sitting or lying down position -- up to 2 percent
  • Diarrhea -- up to 2 percent.
     
Side effects tend to increase as the Coreg dosage is increased.
 
(Coreg Side Effects Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;