Carvedilol (Cont.)

How Does Carvedilol Work?

Carvedilol is part of a class of drugs called beta-adrenergic blocking agents, or beta blockers for short. As the name implies, beta blockers block beta receptors in the body. Beta receptors are located in a number of places within the body, including the heart and blood vessels. These receptors are what stress hormones (such as adrenaline) attach to, thereby causing certain reactions in the body, such as an increase in:
 
By blocking beta receptors, carvedilol causes the reverse effect of stress hormones. It decreases heart rate and both systolic and diastolic blood pressures, as well as the workload on the heart. This means that the heart requires less blood and oxygen to work properly. Carvedilol also increases the efficiency of the heart, allowing more blood to be pumped out to the rest of the body.
 
Unlike a lot of other beta blockers, carvedilol also blocks alpha receptors. The alpha blocker component of carvedilol works more on the peripheral blood vessels (arteries and veins) or on the blood vessels in the arms and legs. By blocking the alpha receptors, carvedilol relaxes these blood vessels.
 

Effects of Carvedilol

A blood pressure reading consists of two numbers -- for example, 120/80. The top number is the systolic blood pressure, and the bottom number is the diastolic blood pressure. During clinical studies in people taking carvedilol, systolic blood pressure decreased 9 mmHg (millimeters of mercury), on average and diastolic blood pressure decreased by 5 mmHg. The higher the dose of carvedilol, the greater the drop in blood pressure tended to be. By lowering blood pressure, carvedilol can decrease the risks that often accompany long-term high blood pressure (see Effects of High Blood Pressure).
 
For people with mild to severe congestive heart failure, the effects of carvedilol on the heart and blood vessels have been shown to decrease the progression of the disease, improve symptoms, and decrease hospitalizations and loss of life from congestive heart failure.
 
Following a heart attack, carvedilol has been known to decrease the chances of death, as well as the chances for another heart attack.
 
(Carvedilol Continued: Page 3)

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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;