Common Carvedilol Side Effects
Carvedilol has been studied extensively in people with
high blood pressure,
congestive heart failure, and recent
heart attack. In these studies, the side effects that occurred in a group of people taking the drug were documented and then compared to the side effects that occurred in another group of people taking a placebo (a "sugar pill" that does not contain any active ingredients). As a result, it was possible to see what side effects occurred, how often they appeared, and how they compared to the group not taking the medicine.
Congestive Heart Failure
Based on these studies, the most common carvedilol side effects seen in people with mild, moderate, or severe congestive
heart failure or following a heart attack include:
- Dizziness -- in up to 32 percent of people
- Fatigue -- up to 2 percent
- 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 carvedilol (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 side effects seen in people with high blood pressure include:
- Dizziness -- in up to 6 percent of people
- 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 get worse with increasing doses.
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