I'm starting carvedilol. What are your experiences?

I started Carvedilol a few years ago and I did not get along with it at all. I was fatigued, weak, and sometimes needed to lay down. After a discussion with my cardiologist, he recommended I stop using it to see if it was the culprit. I felt so much better so he prescribed Amlodipine 5 mg. daily. I am tolerating it well and my BP is under control. For some Carvedilol works fine, others it doesn't. I am a doesn't one.

I have been taking carvedilol since 2007. Started at 12.5 mg 2x/day, dropped down to 6.25mg 2x/day, at some point I was taking 25mg 2x day, right now I'm at 12.5 mg 2x/day. In the beginning I felt sluggish, tired thus the reduction to 6.25mg. It took me about 2 months to adjust to 25mg. My daughter a pharmacist explains the heart is a muscle and the carvedilol helps strengthen the muscle. I find in general heart medicines are strong and require adjustment. The stronger the medicine the longer period of adjustment for me. I encourage you to remain positive, collect information from multiple sources, be open and descriptive in discussion with your cardiologist and/or EP physician.

Been on carvedilol for the past 6months and my experience has been terrifying.

It all started in December 2019 when i woke up in the middle of the night shaking and my heart was racing, I managed to drive myself to the hospital and i was admitted. They managed to calm me down from some kind of a panic attack. In January this year i was having unending pain in my right hand shoulder. i went to the hospital and after several visits they concluded it could be something to do with my heart and they decided to put me on carvedilol. After being on this drug i have been having sleepless nights. feeling of my heart stopping to pump were so real that i would rush to the ER in the middle of the night. Did a first Echo and it came out with mild symmetrical hypertrophy. ECG came out normal. After being carvedilol for 6 months i decide to do the tests again.
Echo came out normal. ECG came out with PVCs which i never had at first and i have never had them. i became so fragile very slow and depressed. my bp has always been normal. My heart rate sometimes is 52 bpm and it makes me feel very tired. My Doctor still insists on my contnuing taking carvedilol 12.5mg once per day. my life has gone down and i have a feeling am a wrong treatment. i tried to skip the taking of the drug and all symptoms disappeared,

Am in a state of confusion weather to continue or stop!!!!!!!!Cardiologist told me my heart is very ok. my EF is 64.8%.

@charlieindia... I'm sorry you are having such a bad time with this drug. If you think your cardiologist is not listening to your plight, have you considered a second opinion?

Have been on carvedilol for 10+ years. 18.75mg 2x/day. Fortunately have not had any issues. Previously was on numerous beta blockers that made me feel sluggish etc. I’ve learned some meds are not the right ones for everyone. If your doctor won’t change, I’d ask him why? It’s your life and there are plenty of meds to help you. Getting another opinion may be another option for you. Good luck and best wishes.

I take 25mg of this once a day, you should take it after eating

Hello @charlieindia

I would like to invite @predictable to this discussion as he has had experience with lots of meds for heart rhythm problems. He might be able to offer some insights.
Have you considered a second opinion?

@jfperrone I take 12.5 twice a day with meals. I have EF of 40 and have had 3 mild heart attacks. I now have a pacemaker after a complete heart block during a catherization. I was on metoprolol for about 15 years for hypertension. Cardiologist changed me to carvedilol after the last heart attack. He said it is the best drug post heart attack. Most people take a beta blocker, ACE inhibitor ande I was told. I can’t tolerate ACE or spironolactone, so I only take carvedilol.

Thanks to my friend Teresa (@hopeful33250), I learned of your plight @charlieindia and hope that my experience might lend a bit of confidence to you in your use of Carvedilol. I hoted two points: 1) the Carvedilol is suspected of side effects that worry you and 2) you didn't mention what your doctors called your diagnosis that started you on Carvedilol. Later, as I understand it, you were diagnosed with premature ventricular contractions (PVC). Those might have been what started you on Carvedilol, or perhaps that was atrial fibrillation, which sometimes originates in the upper chambers of the heart, then progresses to a ventricle below. If you get the chance, check on my posting in this discussion on May 24. It tells you something about my experience and points out some incidents from the use of Carvedilol.

My case began and remains with atrial fibrillation, combined with a hefty general hypertension, so my dosage of Carvedilol is 25mg twice a day. With a dosage that large, Carvedilol often gets blamed for side effects that are attributable more to sharp reduction in dosage, either deliberately or accidentally. Doctors (and the drug manufacturer) always warn against abrupt stoppage or reduction of dose because side effects almost always occur. Like any beta blocker, Carvedilol also causes uncomfortable side effects for some patients at normal and well-managed doses. Any change in use of the medication should be made only with the cooperation and advice of your prescribing physician. I have had little if any problem attributable to Carvedilol since I started on it six years ago. Atrial fibrillation started me on it, and chronic kidney disease (stage 3) was another reason for its choice. For hypertension, I also take 10mg of a diuretic and 40mg of Lisinopril, and ACE drug. At night I also take 5mg of Warfarin to protect me from a stroke caused by AF. Will you be able to track down a recognized heart specialist for a fresh discussion of your situation and use of Carvedilol? Martin

Hi @charlieindia,

Martin, @predictable, makes many good points. In your place, I would also seek advice from a leading heart center in your area. If you can go to Mayo Clinic (they have 3 locations) or Cleveland Clinic they are both tops in heart care. If that is not possible I would look for the best cardiology care center in the surrounding area.