Like all medicines, carvedilol can cause side effects in some people, but many people have no side effects or only minor ones.
Side effects usually improve as your body gets used to the medicine.
Common side effects of carvedilol
These common side effects of carvedilol may happen in more than 1 in 100 people. They're usually mild and last a few days after starting the medicine or increasing your dose. There are things you can do to help cope with them:
Feeling sleepy, tired or dizzy
As your body gets used to carvedilol, these side effects should wear off.
If carvedilol makes you feel dizzy, stop what you're doing and sit or lie down until you feel better. Do not drive, cycle or use tools or machinery until you feel better. Avoid alcohol as it will make you feel worse.
Cold fingers or toes
Put your hands or feet under warm running water, massage them, and wiggle your fingers and toes. Do not smoke or have drinks with caffeine, as this can make your blood vessels narrower and further restrict blood flow to your hands and feet.
Try wearing mittens (they're warmer than gloves) and warm socks. Do not wear tight watches or bracelets.
Feeling sick or being sick (nausea or vomiting)
Stick to simple meals and do not eat rich or spicy food. It might help to take your carvedilol after a meal or snack.
Drink plenty of fluids, such as water or squash, to avoid dehydration. Take small, frequent sips if you're being sick. Signs of dehydration include peeing less than usual or having dark, strong-smelling pee.
Do not take any other medicines to treat vomiting without speaking to a pharmacist or doctor.
If you take the combined contraceptive pill or progestogen-only pill and you're being sick, your contraception may not protect you from pregnancy. Check the pill packet to find out what to do.
Diarrhoea
Drink lots of fluids, such as water or squash, to avoid dehydration. Signs of dehydration include peeing less than usual or having dark, strong-smelling pee.
Do not take any other medicines to treat diarrhoea without speaking to a pharmacist or doctor.
If you take the combined contraceptive pill or progestogen-only pill and you have severe diarrhoea for more than 24 hours, your contraception may not protect you from pregnancy. Check the pill packet to find out what to do.
Speak to a doctor or pharmacist if the advice on how to cope does not help and a side effect is still bothering you or does not go away.
Serious side effects
It happens rarely, but some people have serious side effects when taking carvedilol.
Call a doctor or call 111 straight away if you have:
- nose bleeds that last for more than 10 minutes, unexplained bruising, or you bruise more easily than usual – these can be signs of low numbers of platelets in your blood (thrombocytopenia)
- shortness of breath with a cough that gets worse when you exercise (like walking up the stairs), swollen ankles or legs, or an irregular heartbeat – these may be signs of other heart problems
If you get chest pain and you've already been diagnosed with angina, follow the instructions you've been given for treating your angina:
- Stop what you're doing and rest.
- Use any medicine you've been prescribed – this is usually glyceryl trinitrate (GTN).
- Take another dose after 5 minutes if the first dose does not help.
- If you still have symptoms 5 minutes after taking the 2nd dose, call 999 for an ambulance.
Immediate action required: Call 999 now if:
- you get chest pain that does not stop after a few minutes, and you may also feel sweaty, sick, light headed or short of breath – this could be a sign of a heart attack
- you get shortness of breath, wheezing and tightening of your chest – these could be signs of lung problems
Serious allergic reaction
In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to carvedilol.
Immediate action required: Call 999 now if:
- your lips, mouth, throat or tongue suddenly become swollen
- you're breathing very fast or struggling to breathe (you may become very wheezy or feel like you're choking or gasping for air)
- your throat feels tight or you're struggling to swallow
- your skin, tongue or lips turn blue, grey or pale (if you have black or brown skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet)
- you suddenly become very confused, drowsy or dizzy
- someone faints and cannot be woken up
- a child is limp, floppy or not responding like they normally do (their head may fall to the side, backwards or forwards, or they may find it difficult to lift their head or focus on your face)
You or the person who's unwell may also have a rash that's swollen, raised, itchy, blistered or peeling.
These can be signs of a serious allergic reaction and may need immediate treatment in hospital.
Other side effects
These are not all the side effects of carvedilol. For a full list see the leaflet inside your medicines packet.
You can report any suspected side effect using the Yellow Card safety scheme.