If you have high blood pressure, your doctor may recommend the prescription medication carvedilol to lower your numbers. Carvedilol is a beta-blocking medication that helps the heart beat at a steadier pace. In some cases, carvedilol may cause side effects, including anxiety. Consult your doctor before taking carvedilol and if you notice any troublesome side effects.
Indications
Carvedilol helps prevent complications from high-blood pressure, including stroke, heart attack or kidney failure, says Mayo Clinic. Carvedilol does not eliminate high blood pressure -- instead, it lowers the blood pressure while you are taking the medication. Carvedilol is also prescribed to prevent some cases of congestive heart failure from worsening. Carvedilol may be prescribed alone or in conjunction with other high-blood pressure medications. After a heart attack, carvedilol may be prescribed for left ventricular dysfunction, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Dosage Instructions
Your doctor may prescribe extended-release capsules or oral tablets, says the Mayo Clinic. For high blood pressure, your doctor may start you at a dosage of a 20mg extended-release capsule once a day or 6.25mg twice a day in tablet form. Depending on the condition your doctor is treating or preventing, the dosage may vary. Take the extended-release capsule in the morning, and do not crush it up if you are unable to swallow it, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Instead, swallow the capsule with a spoonful of apple sauce or yogurt.
Side Effects
Anxiety and nervousness may be a common but not necessarily serious side effect of taking carvedilol, according to Drugs.com. Side effects of anxiety may go away as your body adjusts to the medication. Consult your doctor as soon as possible if you feel anxious and think it may be a side effect of carvedilol. He may recommend ways to curb your anxiety or lower your dosage of the medication to reduce your symptoms. Other side effects of carvedilol include headache, dry mouth, chest pain and weight gain.
Warning
Call your doctor immediately if you get an allergic reaction while taking carvedilol. Allergy symptoms may include swelling of the feet or legs and difficulty breathing. Other serious side effects include slow or irregular heartbeats, fainting, fever, stomach pain, no appetite, nausea and jaundice, according to Drugs.com. Taking carvedilol may impair your reaction time -- avoid doing tasks that require you to be alert until you know how the medication reacts with your body. Drinking alcohol may interfere with the time-release capsules, releasing the medication too quickly into the body, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
