I think you should see a cardiologist and get advice about whether Coreg or some other drug is best to treat high blood pressure. Coreg is a drug that is often used for those who have some degree of heart failure, so I am curious as to whether you have something else going on too. Otherwise there are many other drugs that would work to reduce your BP. It sounds like you do have a tendency toward high BP and probably do need to be on something. The question is whether you are on the right drug and right dose.

@auntdd, I think it is vital that you get on the phone with your primary care physician and ask for all the help you can get tracking down the cause of that blood pressure spike. I don't say that to give you a scare, but to emphasize that these unexpected symptomatic episodes are a benefit when they get your attention and that of your medical team, and you will not want to lose the opportunity that yours provided.

In particular, ask your PCP to explain whether Carvedilol (brand name Coreg) could cause your problem earlier this week. You had been on a relatively low dose of that medication for two years (I'm taking 25mg Carvedilol twice a day without any peaks or valleys in my BP). What dose are you on now after your episode earlier this week? Did your "panic attack" send you to the ER, or was it another set of symptoms? I'd suggest that you ask your PCP about a referral to a nephrologist, as well as a cardiologist, because your BP spike might be related to a kidney episode. In my case, Carvedilol was prescribed by my nephrologist as a beta blocker that interacts well with reduced kidney function. Ask also about having an electrocardiogram (EKG) to supplement your blood tests and x-rays done by the ER.

There may not be any better reassurance for you now than you can get from personally controlling your medical diagnosis and treatment -- and insisting that your medical team listen to your concerns and communicate fully with you. Keep us posted so we can continue to talk these things through.

Hi @auntdd.
It must be so scary to have such a reaction! However, you have come to a good place at Connect, where you will find great support and advice.

I'm tagging @teatime, @murryone @neeci @sittingscribe1 and @momma78 on this discussion, as they have mentioned that they are taking Carvedilol (Coreg) too.

@cynaburst and @predictable are absolutely right; you should see your PCP and/or cardiologist soon and seek their advice.
There are many approved indications (by the FDA) for prescribing Carvedilol (Coreg), and one of them is high blood pressure (hypertension). However, since it is a beta blocker, it does this by slowing your heart rate and reducing blood pressure
You can read more about this dug on the Mayo Clinic site, here:
http://mayocl.in/2fiR9dF

@auntdd, can you tell us why you were prescribed Carvedilol? Was it for high blood pressure only, or did you have any cardiac issues?

Did you do anything out of ordinary to spike it? It usually does not just shoot up like that .