Carvedilol (Coreg) is a combination of two classes of drugs called beta-blockers and alpha-blockers. Coreg is used to treat heart failure or in combination with other medication. It is used to treat high blood pressure alone or in combination with other medication. It relaxes the blood vessels so your heart does not have to pump very hard. Coreg also is used occasionally recommended to treat angina (chest pain) and heart muscle disease. Coreg controls high blood pressure and heart failure but does not cure them. To know more about the uses of this medicine, you will need to speak to your doctor or pharmacist.

Coreg is taken in form of a tablet by mouth. It is usually taken twice a day with food. Your blood pressure should lower within 30 minutes. In addition, your symptoms of heart failure would begin to improve within the first hour of beginning Coreg. Your doctor may start out taking a low dose of Coreg and increase your dose every 1 to 2 weeks until you are taking a dose that works well for you. You should be closely monitored when your doctor increases your dose to make sure that the dose is not too high for you. Take Coreg exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Do not stop taking Carvedilol without talking to your doctor. Continue taking Carvedilol even if you feel well. Abruptly stopping Coreg can worsen your symptoms. Your doctor will probably want to decrease your dose gradually over 1 to 2 weeks. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand.

Consult your doctor about the possible side effects of using this drug for your condition. Your doctor may need to monitor you carefully for side effects and alter the doses if necessary.

In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911. In case of missed dose, you may take the missed dose as soon as you remember it.

It is very important to know as how this medication affects you. Your doctor will order certain lab tests to check your response to Carvedilol and may ask you to check your pulse (heart rate). Ask your pharmacist or doctor to teach you how to take your pulse. If your pulse is faster or slower than it should be, call your doctor. You need to keep all appointments with your doctor. If you wear contact lenses, you may have dry eyes while taking Coreg. If this happens, you can use eye drops that are safe for contact lenses. Take care to see that no one should take your medication. Always consult your pharmacist if you have any questions about refilling your prescription.

However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Under no circumstances, take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

Coreg should be stored in the container it came in. Make sure that the container remains tightly closed and out of reach of children when not in use. Coreg should be stored at room temperature and away from places like bathroom where it could experience excess heat and moisture. When the medicine is not in use or outdated, it should be discarded. Take help of your pharmacist in disposing this medicine properly.

Before taking Coreg, check with your doctor and pharmacist to determine if you have a history of allergic reactions to any particular substance or are allergic to Carvedilol or any other drugs.

Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all prescription and non-prescription medications you are taking, especially cimetidine (Tagamet), clonidine (Catapres), cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), digoxin (Lanoxicaps, Lanoxin), diltiazem (Cardizem, Cardizem C, Dilacor XR), fluoxetine (Prozac), insulin, oral medications for diabetes, paroxetine (Paxil), phenelzine (Nardil), propafenone (Rythmol), quinidine (Quinaglute, Dura-Tabs, others), reserpine (Serpalan, Serpasil), rifampin (Rifadin, Rifamate, Rifater, Rimactane), tranylcypromine (Parnate), verapamil (Calan, Covera-HS, Verelan), vitamins and herbal products.

If you have or have ever had asthma or another lung disease; blood vessel disease; diabetes, heart, kidney or liver disease, pheochromocytoma or an overactive thyroid gland then inform your doctor about it.

Before taking Carvedilol, if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant or are breast-feeding then tell your doctor. If you become pregnant while taking Coreg, call your doctor. When you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking Coreg.

Coreg may make you drowsy or dizzy and light headed when you are standing. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this drug affects you. You should sit or lie down when these symptoms occur and then stand up slowly.