If you have a certain heart condition or high blood pressure, you may be interested in learning more about carvedilol. It’s a generic prescription drug used to treat the following conditions in adults:

For these purposes, this drug may be used as a long-term treatment.

Carvedilol comes as a tablet that you swallow. It also comes as an extended-release capsule, but this form is not covered in this article.*

This article describes carvedilol’s side effects. For more information about carvedilol, including details about its uses, see this in-depth article.

* “Extended release” means the drug slowly releases the active ingredient over a long period of time. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.)

Some people may experience mild to serious side effects during their carvedilol treatment. Examples of carvedilol’s commonly reported side effects include:

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Carvedilol’s side effects explained” section below.

Keep reading to learn about other possible mild and serious side effects of carvedilol.

Some people may have mild side effects while taking carvedilol. Examples of mild side effects that have been reported with carvedilol include:

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Carvedilol’s side effects explained” section below.
† An allergic reaction is possible after taking carvedilol. But this side effect wasn’t reported in studies.

In most cases, these side effects should be temporary. And some may be easily managed. But if you have any symptoms that are ongoing or bother you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. And do not stop taking carvedilol unless your doctor recommends it.

Carvedilol may cause mild side effects other than the ones listed above. See the drug’s prescribing information for details.

Serious side effects are possible with carvedilol. These include:

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Carvedilol’s side effects explained” section below.
† An allergic reaction is possible after taking carvedilol. But this side effect wasn’t reported in studies.

If you develop serious side effects while taking carvedilol, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks side effects of the medication. If you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with carvedilol, visit MedWatch.

Carvedilol may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions. These are known as drug-condition interactions. Other factors may also affect whether carvedilol is a good treatment option for you.

Talk with your doctor about your health history before starting carvedilol. Factors to consider include those described below.

Diabetes. Before taking carvedilol, be sure to tell your doctor if you have diabetes. The drug can cause changes in your blood sugar level and hide some symptoms of low blood sugar. This can make it harder for you to manage your blood sugar or tell when your blood sugar level is low. If you have diabetes, your doctor may have you monitor your blood sugar level more often than usual during carvedilol treatment.

Heart conditions. Your doctor may not prescribe carvedilol for you if you have certain heart conditions. Examples include certain kinds of heart failure, angina, and a very slow heart rate. If you have a heart condition, your doctor can recommend whether carvedilol is the right treatment option for you.

Kidney problems. In rare cases, carvedilol may worsen kidney problems in people who already have this condition. If you have a kidney problem, such as kidney failure, tell your doctor before taking carvedilol. They may want to check your kidney function more often than usual while you take this drug. Or they may recommend a treatment other than carvedilol.

Severe liver problems. Before starting carvedilol, tell your doctor if you have a severe liver problem, such as liver failure. Having a severe liver problem may cause carvedilol to build up in your body. A high level of carvedilol in your body can increase your risk of side effects from the drug. Your doctor can recommend whether a treatment other than carvedilol is safer for you.

Lung problems. Your doctor may not prescribe carvedilol if you have certain lung problems, such as asthma. If you have a lung problem, talk with your doctor. They can tell you whether carvedilol is safe to take.

Overactive thyroid. Before taking carvedilol, tell your doctor if you have an overactive thyroid. The drug can hide symptoms of this condition, which can make it harder for you to manage. Your doctor may monitor your thyroid hormone levels more often than usual while you take carvedilol.

Peripheral vascular disease (PVD). Carvedilol may worsen symptoms of PVD. If you have this condition, tell your doctor before taking carvedilol. Your doctor can recommend whether carvedilol is a safe treatment option for you.

Pheochromocytoma. Before taking carvedilol, be sure your doctor knows if you have pheochromocytoma. They may need to prescribe a drug called an alpha-blocker before you start carvedilol treatment. If you have this condition, your doctor can advise you on the right treatment plan for you.

Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to carvedilol or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe carvedilol. Ask them what other medications are better options for you.

Cataract surgery. Before having cataract surgery, be sure your eye surgeon knows you’re taking carvedilol. This drug may increase your risk of certain eye problems during cataract surgery. Your surgeon may need to modify your surgery plan to reduce your risk of these problems.

Alcohol and carvedilol

It might be safe to drink alcohol during your carvedilol treatment. But alcohol can increase or decrease your blood pressure. This can make it hard for carvedilol to manage your blood pressure effectively.

If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor. They can recommend how much alcohol, if any, is safe for you to drink while taking carvedilol.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding while taking carvedilol

It isn’t known whether carvedilol is safe to take during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

To learn more about the risks and benefits of taking carvedilol during these times, talk with your doctor.

Get answers to some frequently asked questions about carvedilol’s side effects.

Do older adults have a higher risk of side effects from carvedilol?

Yes, it’s possible that older adults (people ages 65 years and older) may have a higher risk of certain side effects from carvedilol.

Specifically, studies of carvedilol for high blood pressure have shown a higher risk of dizziness in older adults than in younger adults.

To learn more about how your age may affect your risk of side effects from carvedilol, talk with your doctor.

Do carvedilol’s side effects vary depending on the strength (such as 6.25 mg vs. 12.5 mg)?

Possibly, but this hasn’t been shown in studies of carvedilol.

Carvedilol is available in four strengths: 3.125 milligrams (mg), 6.25 mg, 12.5 mg, and 25 mg. The side effects of carvedilol are generally expected to be the same regardless of the strength you take.

For lists of possible side effects, see the “What are the mild side effects of carvedilol?” and “What are the serious side effects of carvedilol?” sections above.

Is muscle pain a side effect of carvedilol?

No, it’s not. Muscle pain was not reported as a side effect in studies of carvedilol.

But muscle cramps have been reported since the drug became available for use. And muscle pain can be a symptom of muscle cramps. So it’s possible you could have pain related to muscle cramps while taking the drug.

If you have bothersome muscle pain while taking carvedilol, talk with your doctor. They can find out whether this is due to carvedilol or another cause. Your doctor can recommend ways to help ease any muscle pain you may have.

Does carvedilol cause constipation?

Constipation was not reported as a side effect in studies of carvedilol.

With constipation, you may have hard, lumpy, or dry stools that cause pain or straining during a bowel movement.

If you have constipation during carvedilol treatment, talk with your doctor. They can look for the cause of this condition and recommend ways to treat it.

Keeping track of side effects

During your carvedilol treatment, consider taking notes on any side effects you’re having. You can then share this information with your doctor. This is especially helpful when you first start taking new drugs or using a combination of treatments.

Your side effect notes can include things such as:

  • what dose of the drug you were taking when you had the side effect
  • how soon you had the side effect after starting that dose
  • what your symptoms were
  • how it affected your daily activities
  • what other medications you were taking
  • any other information you feel is important

Keeping notes and sharing them with your doctor will help them learn more about how carvedilol affects you. They can then use this information to adjust your treatment plan if needed.

Learn more about some of the side effects carvedilol may cause.

Weight gain

Weight gain may occur with carvedilol. This side effect was common in studies of people taking the drug for heart failure or left ventricular dysfunction (a heart condition affecting the left ventricle of your heart). But weight gain was not reported in studies of people taking the drug for high blood pressure.

Keep in mind that sudden weight gain can be a symptom of worsening heart failure. This can happen because of fluid buildup in your body.

What might help

If you have weight gain while taking carvedilol, talk with your doctor. They can look into whether this may be caused by the drug, your condition, or something else. They can also suggest ways to help you manage your weight during treatment.

If your weight gain is due to worsening heart failure, your doctor may switch you to a different treatment.

Joint pain

You may have joint pain as a side effect of carvedilol. Joint pain was not a common side effect in studies of people taking the drug for heart failure or left ventricular dysfunction (a heart condition affecting the left ventricle of your heart). This side effect was not reported in studies of people taking carvedilol to treat high blood pressure.

With joint pain, you may notice swelling, discoloration, or tenderness around the affected area.

What might help

If you have bothersome or long lasting joint pain while taking carvedilol, talk with your doctor. They can suggest ways to ease your symptoms. For example, they may recommend an over-the-counter pain reliever such as Tylenol (acetaminophen).

Fainting episodes

Fainting episodes were a less common side effect in studies of carvedilol. Before a fainting episode occurs, you may notice dizziness, lightheadedness, and vision changes.

Your risk of this side effect may be greater in the first hour after you take the drug. For this reason, it’s recommended that you avoid driving or performing tasks that could be dangerous during this time.

Your risk of this side effect may also increase if you take carvedilol with an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor. Like carvedilol, ACE inhibitors are used to treat heart failure and high blood pressure. Examples include lisinopril (Qbrelis, Zestril) and benazepril (Lotensin).

What might help

If you have fainting episodes while taking carvedilol, talk with your doctor. They can suggest ways to ease this side effect.

For example, if you take an ACE inhibitor, they may recommend that you take carvedilol at a different time than the ACE inhibitor. This can help reduce your risk of fainting episodes.

Allergic reaction

Like most drugs, carvedilol can cause an allergic reaction in some people. This side effect wasn’t reported in studies. But allergic reaction has been reported since carvedilol became available for use.

Symptoms can be mild to serious and can include:

  • skin rash
  • itchiness
  • flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)
  • swelling under your skin, usually in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
  • swelling of your mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe

What might help

If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms. Examples include:

  • an antihistamine that you take by swallowing, such as Benadryl (diphenhydramine)
  • a product you apply to your skin, such as hydrocortisone cream

If your doctor confirms you’ve had a mild allergic reaction to carvedilol, they’ll decide whether you should continue taking it.

If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

If your doctor confirms you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to carvedilol, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

Like most drugs, carvedilol can cause side effects. In most cases these are mild, but serious side effects are possible. If you have questions about side effects this drug may cause, talk with your doctor.

You may want to ask your doctor a few questions to help decide if this treatment is right for you, such as:

  • Am I taking any other drugs that could increase my risk of side effects with carvedilol?
  • How can I manage side effects I may have with carvedilol?
  • Are there any side effects of carvedilol that I should tell you about right away?

You can also ask them about Coreg, which is the brand-name version of carvedilol oral tablet. A generic drug and its brand-name version are expected to have similar side effects because they contain the same active ingredient. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.)

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Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.