Coreg carvedilol heart failure
Common Questions and Answers about Coreg carvedilol heart failure
coreg
I quit taking carvedilol and my statin as I thought I had my heart problems knocked, and soon afterwards, even though my cholesterol, diabetes and weight was normal, I had to have six more stents, a pacemaker, and eventually bypass surgery. Today at age 72 I'm back taking the drugs, but I also have Congestive Heart Failure, and believe me, taking carvedilol and Plavix was much easier. I have to sleep in a chair because my lungs fill with water.
I got sick a few years ago and it wekened my heart. I take Coreg(Carvedilol) and Lisinopril. I still want children very badly and was told that basically, there were meds that I can take instead of Lisinopril, but I would have to stop taking Coreg. Of course, I would just have to see how I would do without Coreg... Are there any alternatives to Coreg?
First observation I know is correct, Coreg and Carvedilol are the exact same drug, except Carvedilol is the generic form of Coreg. Increasing the combination would mean over 120mg, an unheard of dosage. You are already taking a gorilla dose and that can cause a drop of EF in my opinion. EF ratings fluctuate. I'd ask for a BNP test that is used to determine the level of CHF one has. Usually less than 100 indicates no CHF.
The side effects from the metoprolol have gotten a little better, though as I type this my heart rate is 52 bpm. Does any one have any comments on the pros and cons of carvedilol versus metoprolol? I'm not sure I want to switch if the side effects will be the same. Does anyone have experience with metoprolol? How long do the side effects last?
50 mg is very often prescribed for Cardiomyopathy and Conjestive Heart Failure. Often the dose is bumped up over a period of time. I was inititally prescribed 3.175 mg twice a day, and it made me very tired, but as my body got used to it, I started taking larger and then again larger dosages until I reached 50 mg. It's a very effective medication for many people, but some people just can't tolerated it.
Dr took me off lisinopril due to dry cough about 6 weeks ago and upped coreg to 6.25 mg. cough resolved but I have been having early morning rapid heart beat (wakes me up) in recent weeks and my tinnitus has become much worse. My upper back pain which started while on drugs is also worse since the dosage went up.
An enlarged heart is almost always secondary to heart failure, but it can be primary and cause heart failure and a low EF. Also, an enlarged heart, left ventricle, can cause arrhythmia, and the EKG indicates an incomplete BBB. An ICD is recommended and advisable.
You may want to ask the underlying cause for the heart enlargement. Sometimes the enlargement can be reversed and the EF can rise to normal if there is no heart muscle damage.
t have heart failure secondary to ischemic heart disease (ie blockages in the heart -- the normal stress test argues against this). The same is true for statins -- if your cholesterol is okay and you don't have evidence of coronary disease or other risk factors (diabetes, stroke, etc) then you don't need a statin.
Vasodilators are sometimes used on top of ACEI/ARB and beta blocker but aren't always indicated.
More troubling is that I just began a cardiac rehab program, and did a treadmill workout at a speed/incline/duration (30 minutes) that I have been doing for years - so I know what my response should be. Normally, my heart rate would be around 130-135, and the coreg (presumably) kept it down around 115-120. I felt fine, and was encouraged - but afterwards, I felt extremely fatigued for the rest of the day, and had a great deal of soreness in my legs.
I believe you are referring to carvedilol (coreg). That is a beta blocker that helps control an irregular heart rate and helps reduce any resistance the heart has to pump against by relaxing the blood vessels. About 6 years ago, I had a low EF and and enlarged heart (left ventricle). The enlargement was due to high blood pressure and the enlargement reduced the EF to below 29% (heart failure range < 30%).
As a heart patient I think Coreg did indeed revive the heart stunned heart cells. Dead cells are just dead, but some of the cells can be revived, I was told.
I weigh 85 pounds more than you and know that drug doses are given by body weight in many cases. I'm a big believer in quality of life as opposed to just staying alive, so know your struggle, I had it for several months. Easy for me to say, but I'd stay the course until you just can't endure the fatigue.
At 30% this is getting close to heart failure. The heart can recover without exercise and what you don't want to do is make your heart start to compensate and become even weaker due to exercise. If your Cardiologist has asked you not to exercise until the 30% rises, he has very good reasons.
I remember reading a case of a young girl in England who had heart failure. They couldn't find the reason for it and she was on a transplant list.
25 mg of Lisinopril is indeed a high dose. I have Congestive Heart Failure, and take both Lisinopril and Coreg, but smaller doses because it tires me out so badly. Like Occupant, I was developing very low blood pressure which makes one very tired, my bp would drop to about 80/45. You might want to talk to the doctor about easing off the dose. That said, I'm not a health professional, so take my idea with a grain of salt.
Since my heart attack and stent placement 5 months ago my diet has been 99% plant based. Lipids dropped a lot.
I have been checking my lipids frequently and they have been fairly steady until last Monday when I saw a spike in triglycerides and drop in HDL.
For most the last 5 months:
Total Chol about 120 or lower
Triglycerides about 115 or lower
HDL fairly steady at about 35. has always been low.
Last monday TG rose to 204 and HDL dropped to 29.
Total Chol was 115 and LDL direct was 55.
I just read up on Coreg - - beta blocker, and on low blood pressure. Beta blockers can cause heart damage which then can cause low pulse - hense low blood pressure. He has 5 stents and is on crestor & plavix. He's also taking a multi vitamin & Omega 3 supplement. Can he stop taking the Coreg? Is there an alternative? He's strong and very active - physicallty & sexually. He's also taking Co Enzyme Q-10.
In addition, feelings of fatigue are common with all classes of beta blockers. Carvedilol, or Coreg, has slightly more potent blood pressure effects but are otherwise fairly similar to metoprolol. Hope that this helps.
A LVEF of 37% is not good; but, not congestive heart failure. If they left off at that I would get a second opinion if possible or pester them for an explanation of why it dropped. I have just started to understand diabetes and testing. I have noticed when I'm stressed or upset my glucose numbers rise along with my BP and HR. Though as I said I'm new to this diabetes thing.
I had an EF of 72 three years ago and last year it dropped to 52% in which is still ok I guess.
ve been on 2 medications ever since, Carvedilol (Coreg) 6.25mg; and Losartan Potassium ( Cozaar ) 50mg. My condition was caused by heavy drinking ( Alcohol ). I've been sober for 21 months now, ever since I was diagnosed. I'm so happy and relieved that my doctor says that it getting better. I'm feeling better, because the medication are working for me. My concern is, will my heart. Enlargement go back to normal size?
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