Carvedilol for Heart Failure User Reviews

• TMo...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 11, 2021

"Since taking carvedilol, I have gained about 40 lbs. without any change to my diet. My cardiologist says no, that doesn’t happen. However, I have seen this same complaint from thousands of online comments. What is a good alternative to Carvedilol that does not add excessive weight? Doctors, if you’re not taking the drug, do not make ridiculous comments about side effects. Your drug company rep isn’t going to tell you the truth on side effects."

• Age...
• May 28, 2020

"I had a leg injury. Doctors would not give me a real pain pill. They only gave me over-the-counter naproxen sodium Aleve, which does not control pain at all and caused stomach ache and mild heart failure. After some weeks of rest, my heart was perfectly good, back to normal. The problems did not start until the doctor put me on Carvedilol (Coreg), which is a Beta Blocker. It blocks some brain chemicals and hormones, such as Adrenaline, and causes the heart to pump slower. After that, I went into a steady decline, worse every month. My heart now feels that it struggles to pump, and blood pressure feels too low. Leg muscles are now too weak to do leg lifts. I feel less youthful, feel suddenly older, and my heart muscle struggles to pump strong enough. Heart is overexerting. I have sleep apnea, and sometimes it is easier to sleep sitting up. Carvedilol (Coreg) makes my heart too weak to sleep in a sitting position, I need to be laying flat for the heart to pump comfortably."

• Bea...
• March 9, 2013

Carvedilol "I participated in the blind study at University Hospital in Denver, CO in the '90s. EF was 12% - was given 6 months to live in 1992 at 24 years old, with a 6-month-old daughter. I must have gotten the actual medicine in the trial. I was glad to participate and was excited when FDA approved Coreg. I had gotten to over 400 lbs. Now, 22 years later, my EF is 52%, weight 165, hold a B.S. and M.S. degree, working on a Ph.D., and watching my daughter do wonderful things. I'm grateful for Coreg and my awesome cardiac and PCP team."

• Jel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 1, 2019

"I was taking metoprolol for a couple of years for heart failure and high blood pressure with absolutely no problems. Then my cardiologist left the clinic and the new guy switched me to Carvedilol 25 mg twice a day. Immediately, I suffered shortness of breath, profound weakness, and dizziness to the point where I almost passed out a few times. I demanded to be taken off it and put back on the metoprolol. This was just my experience with Carvedilol and yours may be different. But doctors who think nothing of playing with a patient’s medications for no good reason make me sick."

• Ang...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 2, 2018

Carvedilol "Coreg (Carvedilol) saved my life for 2.9 years then one day my defibrillator activated & sent me into a blackout in my bathtub. After a device check reading of 325 beats per min., a heart cath & no other findings at the hospital, the Coreg got the blame, they changed me to Metoprolol, wrong. Coreg kept me active, happy & gave me my life back. Sure there are side effects but they don't last long, I could function daily. With Metoprolol, gained weight, stayed very fatigued & developed vertigo. Finally, I had a move & got another cardiologist. I told him my wish was to go back to Coreg & explained why I was taken off this med, now, I'm back on Coreg. I know beta blockers are not all kosher but NEVER EVER go off meds w/o your doctor's knowledge. Also, lost my hubby to a basilar artery stroke 10 days before his 30-year retirement due to his belief in no meds. Don't do it! It may be your life you save. Always talk with the doctor & you always have the right to a 2nd doctor's advice."

• Anonymous
• September 6, 2009

Carvedilol "Coreg worked fine for me at 12.5 mg twice a day. However, as a former smoker, when my physician increased the dosage to 25 mg 2x a day, I had trouble breathing, walking, and my feet swelled up. Coreg should be kept at a minimal dose if the patient has an underlying lung problem. My physician had to stop the drug completely."

• Gon...
• December 24, 2014

Carvedilol "Works well for Congestive Heart Failure (CHF), however, I started using it years ago and we have discovered that Coreg may cause painful peripheral neuropathy. I am not diabetic but have developed the neuropathy, and the only guess from doctors is that it was caused by the Coreg."

• Mar...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 24, 2014

Carvedilol "I had an EF of 12 - no cause or history of heart disease. My doctor put me on Coreg along with other meds and 6 months later, my EF is 55-60. I have some side effects from the Coreg, mainly some weakness and occasionally some dizziness, but it is nothing compared to being in heart failure. Very thankful my doc prescribed this med."

• Anonymous
• December 5, 2011

Carvedilol "Started living with congestive heart failure caused by a virus in 1996. Started on Coreg in 2001 when EF hit 15. Went back up to 41 within a few months and remains at that level. I am now 68. I'm sure I wouldn't be here if it were not for this medicine. Don't seem to have side effects."

• Pai...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 26, 2013

Carvedilol "I was hospitalized 3 years ago for Congestive Heart Failure and Atrial Fibrillation with an EF of 20%. After a 17-day hospital stay and an ablation, I was sent home with many meds, including Coreg. I started at the lowest dosage and slowly got to tolerate my current dosage of 12.5 mg 2x a day. My current EF is 45% and I believe Coreg continues to save my life every day."

• Sha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 6, 2019

"I have been diagnosed with CHF in April 2019. Nobody knows the reason since I don’t have a history. I never drink alcohol, never smoke, never use drugs. I have very low BP, around 100. I am 43 years old. I was very active, running 2 miles in 18 minutes daily. In April, my heart EF was 15%. The doctor put me on carvedilol 3.125 mg twice a day for one month, then doubled the dose. I suffered a lot from dizziness and shortness of breath, I almost passed out. The doctor said that’s all for my benefit. I continued my workout, I improved a lot. I am now able to do 2 miles in 25 minutes. In July 2019, I had an ECHO to evaluate the progress, then the doctor was disappointed that my heart still had 15% EF. But I feel good..."

• Ast...
• December 8, 2014

Carvedilol "I had a viral infection of the back wall of my heart. In Feb 2007, my EF was 20%, and I was throwing PVCs like crazy. My cardiologist started me on Coreg (carvedilol) but could not tolerate a dose higher than 3.125 mg, and he also started me on Vasotec (enalapril), and again, I could not tolerate a dose higher than 2.5 mg. In fact, I take my blood pressure before every dose (2x daily), and if it is less than 130, I do not take the Vasotec. By June 2007, my EF was 68%, and only the occasional PVC these days. Coreg and Vasotec continue to work very well and have saved my life!"

• Bal...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 10, 2020

"Carvedilol has saved my life. I can't see any issues with this drug. Before taking it, my EF was between 14-19, now, after years of taking it, my EF ranges between 29-40. In 2004, the docs told me without a transplant for my cardiomyopathy, I had maybe 5 years left. Guess what, 2021 is coming up, and I will be celebrating it with my 2 teen daughters thanks to carvedilol. My one and only side effect is some light-headedness, and that is expected from a beta blocker because it will lower your blood pressure some."

• RBr...
• January 12, 2018

Carvedilol "I had a mitral valve repair and my EF dropped to 30. I was put on Coreg for 6 months, and I experienced periods of dizziness and muscle pain. I worked out and played tennis 3 times a week-surprising my doctor. I had no problems, but my EF never improved above the 30-35 range. Since Coreg's main purpose seems to be to lower blood pressure, I am not sure why they insisted I go on it for low EF. I started taking CoQ10 and no Coreg, and now my EF has improved to 40 and I felt better and had no dizziness. I don't believe that Coreg actually helps with EF. I think the studies were flawed to prove something that is not true."

• Hou...
• February 16, 2015

Carvedilol "This medicine has saved my husband's life! He went into heart failure and had an EF of 10% in 2011. With 16 days of hospitalization and discharged with this medication and a few more, he has thrived and continues to do well today."

• VBa...
• November 7, 2008

Carvedilol "In June 07 at age 47, to my doctor's disbelief, I was on life support and confirmed to have congestive heart failure. After trials for weeks on different medicines, my doctor asked me to try Coreg with my Lasix. Boy, was I thankful. Today, 6 months later, I am 2804 miles from home, living a very normal and happy life."

• Ree...
• June 15, 2021

"I was diagnosed with CHF and EF less than 35% in March 2021. 3.25 mg of carvedilol twice a day, doubling dosage every two weeks until 25 mg 2x a day was reached. Immediately starting this medication, I felt like my heart was getting worse. I had read the side effects, and I waited for my side effects to calm down. They didn't, they got worse, with a good day tucked in here and there. The pain in my upper legs was unbearable and constant chest pains, the feeling of disconnect with my surroundings, constant fighting off dizzy spells and weakness. I went from doing handyman work up a ladder all day in January to barely able to get out of bed by the end of May. My blood glucose levels went completely nuts. Beware of this med. I felt trapped, and I was told I had to take it to help my heart, but then felt as if it was really bad for me, making me worse than I was. It made me completely nonfunctional in a matter of months. I felt so much better in a matter of hours after discontinuing its use."

• Dee...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 16, 2018

"Coreg was slowly killing me, and I didn't know it. I kept passing out, broke my nose, broke my back, along with other injuries from just dropping. My last horrible experience was ischemic colitis from very low blood pressure. I was in the hospital for six days, and cardiology realized my very low dose of this was dropping my BP dangerously low, along with my EF dropping 15%. They switched the Coreg to metoprolol. I am no longer coughing uncontrollably, wheezing, coughing up a lot of white mucus! This was all due to Coreg! Never again!"

• Jam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 19, 2017

Carvedilol "After getting sepsis from UTI, I ended up with heart failure at 35-40%. I was initially put on Coreg at 3.125 and doing well. Hope to have another echo soon and see how much I have improved in the last 3 months. No other meds with it. I am so, so much better. Almost back to 100% activity."

• j w...
• July 19, 2010

Carvedilol "Had a heart attack in June 2003 - after 8 days in the hospital, a doctor put me on Coreg, and I am still alive and living well and feel good. I am on other drugs as well, however, I believe in Coreg, the results have been great."

• Til...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 22, 2019

"Dr. put me on carvedilol a few weeks ago. It's the worst thing I've ever taken. It causes dizziness, lightheadedness, and I think insomnia. I'm going to another Dr. at the end of the week to see if she will take me off it."

• Twi...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 12, 2023

Carvedilol "I was diagnosed with heart failure in 2010. I took Coreg at first, but I would become dizzy and light-headed. I was then put on Carvedilol 10 mg twice a day and had the same symptoms. I changed to time-released capsules: 2 x 20 mg capsules in the morning, and I’m no longer lightheaded."

• Jlf...
• July 8, 2016

"Symptoms using Generic: Sudden severe weakness nearly always occurring mid-morning, blood pressure plummets, and one time it went so low my defibrillator had to zap me. There is a difference between Coreg brand drug and generic carvedilol. I have been in the ER many times in the past because of it, and they found nothing each time. Thanks to O-care, Coreg costs $110 out of pocket now, and I cannot take the generic for very long without the side effect I stated. Cure: Short term: drink some V8. The potassium in it will help reregulate your heart quickly. Long term: Pay for Coreg BRAND prescription. Well, it is very hard to afford this, so what I do is take Coreg once every 3-4 days, and this seems to keep the issue from occurring."

• Big...
• February 21, 2018

"I started Coreg in 2006, and I found out my ejection fraction (EF) was about 30. After using Coreg at 3.25 mg, then upward to 50 mg, it took almost 6 months to get there. Now my EF is around 55-60. This is a wonderful drug, and it saved my life."

• dru...
• December 27, 2010

"I am doing so much better with carvedilol than I did with Coreg. I know, I know, it's the same thing, but the dosage choices are much broader than with Coreg. I was having difficulty with the 20 mg (1x daily) Coreg and switched to 6.25 mg (2x daily) carvedilol and all the side effects went away (both drowsiness and dizziness). It has been three months since the switch, and I am as happy as a person can be having to take medication(s)."