Carvedilol and Fatigue: What Users Say

• Im...
• March 12, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "Took carvedilol for almost 2 years at 12mg 2 times a day. All was fine until this past year: fatigue, diarrhea, back pain, bleeding gums, eye problems-felt like sandpaper in my eyes. After 2 days of non-stop diarrhea and being so weak and dizzy barely making it to the bathroom, I stopped taking it. I expected that to be difficult, but it wasn't at all, and my doctor didn't even check with me to see how it went. I'm through with the doctor and carvedilol forever!"

• Max...
• October 25, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "I was prescribed Carvedilol 25 mg AM/PM. I was popping pills all day and feeling horrible...like I was going to have a heart attack at any moment. My PCP treated me by prescribing more medications. I was popping pills like candy and feeling like I was run over by a truck. I had extreme fatigue! I did my own research and learned that Calcium Channel Blockers (CCB) are best for African Americans, which the PCP nor Cardiologist were giving me. I requested a CCB and told the doctor I did not want to take Carvedilol, only to learn that I had to wean off of it because a sudden stop could cause a heart attack. I will NEVER take it again. BETA BLOCKERS do not work as well for Black people to treat HBP, and unfortunately, some of the prescribers are NOT aware of the critical detail."

• hkj...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 17, 2016

For High Blood Pressure "I was put on Carvedilol after a spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) as a way to lower my new hypertension. I had hypotension for 63 years, and suddenly it's high. They started me on 6.25mg. I immediately had fatigue and nausea. My BP stayed up so they doubled the dose, worsening both the fatigue and the nausea, to the point where I felt like I was pregnant with nausea 24/7 and fatigue to where I could barely get out of bed and then moved to the sofa. Yes, I complained to my PCP and Cardiology MD. They doubled the dose again to 25mg BID. At 12 weeks, I said enough. I chose quality of my life versus quantity if that was to happen and stopped the Carvedilol. Within the week, I felt 100% better and my BP came down to 100/60, where I normally 'live'. Awful drug!"

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

Carvedilol for Heart Failure "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."

• Ins...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 16, 2018

For High Blood Pressure "Placed on carvedilol 12.5 mg bid. Side effects got progressively worse even with decreasing dose. By the end of 9 months, I was on 3.25 mg twice daily and had missed 2 weeks of work, was nauseated, had diarrhea, vomiting, strange thoughts, anxious, scared to death of any noise, lost 28 lbs, throat and chest pain, and did not have enough energy to get out of bed. On the positive side, my BP went from 173/103 to 112/74 with a pulse in the 40 to 50 range. I have been off of it for about 2 days, and although I had a BP spike, many of the side effects are mitigating. May be great for some, but I am thankful for being off of it."

• mel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 7, 2018

For High Blood Pressure "Carvedilol was added along with HCTZ 3/6/18, to be taken 2x a day for high blood pressure. Within the hour, I started having sporadic migraine-type headaches with a severe 'ice pick sensation' over the top of my head, mobilized, terrible headache pain behind my eyes and at the back of my head. Seems like chronic back pain was made worse. I feel even more tired, no energy, even less motivation, with horrible derealization. BP before was 152/90. BP later was 147/87-64. Glucose 126, 3 hours after lunch. Migraine ice pick sensation back again, headache pain behind my eyes with shooting headache at the back of my head at 4:12 pm, BP 166/86-59. Glucose 58, 5 hours after dinner. BP, 1:59 am 145/78-69. 2nd dose 2:20 am 140/75-69. I had taken HCTZ first, 2 hours later taken Carvedilol. My voiding seems normal until taking Carvedilol, which leaves a very noticeable decrease in voiding throughout the day and night. I also have experienced feeling more cold, with hands and fingers tingling with palpitations in my neck."

• Eve...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 17, 2022

For High Blood Pressure "OK, so my blood pressure shot up to 240/140 with a 140 heart rate. It stayed that way while I was in the emergency room. It was early September. Maybe because I’m a nurse, but also because I question everything, I also saw that my calcium levels were up, and I remembered they had been up before at my doc appointment labs. My doctors always dismissed it. This time I did my own research. I was not taking any calcium supplements. I asked for a vitamin D and PTH level to be drawn. Voila, I have hyperparathyroidism. I am perceiving that's why my blood pressure has been an issue for quite some time, but worsened after getting COVID this year. Still better than getting the vax. I am taking 10 mg amlodipine, 45 mg of losartan, and most recently started carvedilol 6.25 mg 2x/day. I am having stomach pain, nausea, and fatigue. I’m going to talk to the cardiologist about getting off this crap tomorrow. I will tolerate possibly a lower dose, but I want to know why it’s causing G.I. issues."

• Mr ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 17, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "Here's my experience with Coreg. Took the minimum dose for hypertension (6.25 mg twice a day according to the doctor). Freaked me out at first during the first couple of weeks. Increased anxiety, felt somewhat fatigued. But after getting used to it, BP would be in the 110's/70's range, so really good BP. However, if I got the slightest bit of anger or anxiety, BP would get elevated to the 130's/90's range. After 2 months of this, dumped my primary care doctor and switched to another one. New doctor prescribed 50 mg of metoprolol per day and 5 mg of Lexapro to help with the anxiety. Tried Lexapro before with the Coreg, but the third night I felt hot and felt a weird heartbeat, so I stopped. Told the new doctor what happened before with Lexapro, but he said it wasn't the Lexapro but the Coreg. Start the metoprolol tomorrow and Lexapro a couple of days later, so hopefully this works. This is my experience, so Coreg may work for you, but it didn't help much."

• Bel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 14, 2018

For Heart Failure "Started taking carvedilol the first week of May. My EF is at 33%. In the first week, I already felt a difference. Prior symptoms were chest pressure, shortness of breath, extreme fatigue. I would say these symptoms are 80% gone now. I feel it's time to start my cardio workouts again! In two months, I will have another echocardiogram. Hopefully, I see some improvements. Also, I would like to add that in some reviews I read of people combining CoQ10 with this medicine, and I am now taking it as well. I feel more energized, and I feel it makes the side effects of carvedilol dissipate with it."

• Yor...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 23, 2017

For Atrial Fibrillation "I have been on bisoprolol for six years and have had severe fatigue from this, sleeping up to 13 or 14 hours every day. My doctor changed me to carvedilol in the hope these side effects would improve. I started off on an initial dose of 12.5 mg a day. From the first night's sleep, I suffered with insomnia, sleeping for five hours that night. I felt more awake, even though less sleep. After two days, I started to get tightening of muscles in my face, hands, arms, and legs, and abdominal pain. After increasing to 25 mg on week two, I felt terrible. Four hours' sleep for two weeks, muzzy confused feelings, feeling sick, joint pain - I couldn't bear how I felt. To top it off, drug-induced sleep apnea was the last straw. I came off it."

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 16, 2022

For Heart Failure "I am pleased, overall, with the performance of Carvedilol for my heart diagnoses (irregular heartbeat, left ventricular dysfunction, heart failure, angina, and high blood pressure). I had a terrible experience, previously, with taking an ACE inhibitor. So, after getting a thorough work-up at a top-level cardiology clinic (we live close to one of the top three in the country), I was put on Carvedilol (along with a calcium channel blocker). I had low energy as a side effect at first, so my doctor reduced the amount to half the original dose. I have gotten used to having somewhat lower energy and accept that even without Carvedilol, at age 66, I'd be having lower energy anyway. I nap a bit more, and that's OK. The fact that it is such a good fit for my diagnoses, is effective for me, and is free of serious side effects makes it a very good choice for me instead of ACE inhibitors or ARBs."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 23, 2022

For Atrial Fibrillation "Carvedilol 25 mg twice a day has caused me so many problems: dizziness, fatigue, and high blood pressure. I did better on Coreg 80 mg, but my doctor doesn't understand. I wish I had an understanding doctor. What is it going to take for him to understand?"

• Anonymous
• January 31, 2010

Carvedilol for High Blood Pressure "Caused extreme fatigue"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 31, 2015

For High Blood Pressure "Terrible body pain, fatigue, constant urinating, and shortness of breath. This is a terrible medicine. It should be taken off of the market. My insurance only covered the generic."

• hel...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 27, 2022

For High Blood Pressure "Carvedilol is bad. I can't breathe, I'm fatigued all the time, I can't sleep, constipation. I have no quality of life. I can't function. I'm on oxygen now."