COREG CR (CARVEDILOL CONTROLLED RELEASE)

Coreg CR Description

Coreg CR (Carvedilol Controlled Release) is prescribed to treat hypertension and congestive heart failure. Your doctor may also recommend taking Coreg CR if you have recently had a heart attack as a way of reducing your risk of having another one. The second most common cause of heart failure is hypertension; the #1 cause is the irreparable damage to your heart muscle from having a heart attack.

High blood pressure (hypertension) can go undetected unless you have regular health check-ups. There are usually no symptoms or signs to indicate the force being exerted in your arteries as the blood flow becomes constricted from plaques that build up in the arterial walls from poor eating habits, obesity, smoking, and a sedentary lifestyle.

How Does Coreg CR Work?

Coreg CR is a beta blocker that changes the way your body responds to adrenaline, a hormone naturally produced in your body, also known as epinephrine. Usually when you become scared or angry, epinephrine is released into your bloodstream causing an increase of your heart rate, muscle strength, blood pressure, and your sugar metabolism in order to prepare you for a “fight or flight” response to the stimuli.

When taken as directed, Coreg CR blocks out a lot of what epinephrine does in order to reduce the number of heartbeats and the force of each beat. This will help keep your blood pressure at a safer level and decrease your risk of a cardiac event.

Conditions Treated by Coreg CR

Your coronary arteries supply your heart with blood and oxygen. If they become blocked, your heart will be deprived as it struggles to send blood to the rest of your tissues and organs. Your first indication something is wrong is a pain in your chest that can radiate down one or both arms. Within 20 to 40 minutes, your heart muscle will sustain irreversible damage if your blood flow is not restored quickly. It only takes 6 to 8 hours before your heart attack is called “complete” and the heart muscle is replaced by scar tissue.

Coreg CR can help you avoid another heart attack that could be fatal due to the existing damage done to your heart muscle. You can also reduce your chances of this occurring by adjusting your lifestyle and start eating healthier, losing weight, staying active, reducing your stress, stop smoking, and have regular check-ups. Early diagnosis and treatment for hypertension can improve your chances for keeping your heart healthy.

Before You Take Coreg CR

Discuss other medical conditions or allergies you have with your doctor as well as any drugs you are taking, including herbal remedies and dietary or vitamin supplements so it can be determined if Coreg CR is the right medication for you.

Coreg CR Precautions

Until you know how Coreg CR will affect you, do not drive or take on any task that may be considered unsafe if you are not alert. Do not stop or start any medication without talking to your doctor as it could interact negatively with Coreg CR. If you are diabetic, monitor your blood sugar levels as Coreg CR can cause it to rise or drop. You should not stop taking Coreg CR suddenly; this should be done gradually over a period of one to two weeks.

Possible Side Effects of Coreg CR

• Dizziness
• Headache
• Diarrhea