Carvedilol and Anxiety: What Users Say

• Onl...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 16, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "I have been on Carvedilol for about a year now after suffering a panic attack (thought I was having a heart attack) and going to the ER. ER doctor suggested I go see a Cardiologist to help ease my mind (I had convinced myself something is wrong with my heart). After doing all the tests (stress & ECG), everything looks good besides some minor swelling, but wanted to put me on BP medicine because I was averaging around 145/85-90 every time I saw him. I really, really, really don't like the side effects. I have constant heartburn, chest soreness and muscle pain, mainly in my left chest, shoulder, and upper back. It has caused so much anxiety because I'm constantly thinking my chest pain is heart-related. I'm finally at the point where I think I'm going to go to a different doctor because mine keeps saying all the side effects are just in my head. But it has caused real problems, I have gained 50 lbs since being on the meds due to depression and fear of being active (cardiophobia). 30 y/o male 300 lbs"

• Mik...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 17, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "I was prescribed this drug, carvedilol, for high blood pressure. In short, it is horrible. Chest pains, anxiety, and headaches. Trying to get back off with the doctor's help. Don't start this drug. Find something else."

• Cli...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 13, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "Had mech valve implanted in aortic position and composite graft in ascending aorta done in April 2019 (to replace 16-year-old tissue valve in the same position). Was put on metoprolol succinate 50mg daily among other drugs for the heart when discharged from the hospital. I was making progress until after week 12 when I had 2 medical emergencies. Long story short - all the symptoms I was experiencing: confusion, dizziness, anxiety, difficulty swallowing, vision issues, so-called 'seizures' - these were resolved when my cardiologist switched me over to Carvedilol 6.25mg 2x a day after trying to reduce my metoprolol dosage. After taking Carvedilol I feel like a new person. I have no more symptoms. I've heard that Carvedilol also has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. I don't know. Moral of the story - make sure that your doctor works with you to find medication that suits you. Everybody is different."

• Coo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 27, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "I’ve had just horrible side effects. My blood pressure would spike throughout the day, getting as high as 184/94, which caused lots of anxiety. Trouble sleeping. Arrhythmias throughout the day caused headaches at the top of my head and around the carotid artery. Shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea, weakness, and bloody sinuses. At one point, I thought I was going to have a stroke or get kidney disease. It’s been 2 weeks, and some of the symptoms have decreased. I don’t think I want to stay with this product. I hope there’s no damage to my arteries or organs. Time will tell, but I hope the FDA takes this one off the market! I prefer to go back to Metoprolol. It was a lot of praying, day, noon, and night that got me through this!"

• Bec...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 27, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "I have had a good experience with Carvedilol. I take it for HBP and a heart condition. At first, a bit of dizziness, but that could have been the other meds causing this. I have fewer head rushes and anxiety. I feel more calm and at ease now."

• Viz...
• April 11, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "I was given carvedilol after aneurysm surgery. I understood it to be a temporary therapeutic drug needed to help recover from the surgery trauma to my heart. My surgeon said my heart was otherwise okay. When I got out of the hospital, I experienced major side effects including shaking, anxiety, panic attacks, dizziness, and mental confusion. I told my cardiologist about the side effects, but he said I should continue the carvedilol but cut back the dosage slightly, which did not help. I also told my cardiologist my blood pressure was erratic. After 4 months, I told my cardiologist I would not take carvedilol anymore. He prescribed cardizem along with carvedilol. I took only the cardizem and all side effects went away except panic attacks, but blood pressure stayed high. After explaining the problem to my primary care, she prescribed losartan to take with cardizem, which brought my blood pressure down to the 120/80 range."

• 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."

• You...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 1, 2015

For Left Ventricular Dysfunction "This is a tough med to start. But after a few weeks, I got adjusted and titrated up to the right dose. My EF was close to 35% when I started it. When I began taking this drug, I would get dizzy, which would instill panic episodes in me. But I stuck with it, and my EF is 55% now. I now don't even notice the Coreg unless I forget it. And when I do forget it, I get a little jittery. It's a miracle drug. Tough to start but worth the result."

• Kfl...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 7, 2023

For High Blood Pressure "I had 6 months of extreme anxiety, weird body responses, heart pounding, and terrible insomnia. The medical world started to label me as a hysterical patient. After doing my own research, I discovered all of these were side effects from carvedilol. After 1 week without it, most side effects are gone or seldom, and my mind is clearing up from being foggy and confusing. It was a very difficult time for me and my husband, primarily with the multiple ER visits but also the cost involved in those trips, as well as a sleep study, which was horrible. I switched to a Chinese herb remedy. My blood pressure is even better than with Western medicine."

• Bil...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 17, 2023

For High Blood Pressure "I've been taking carvedilol for 2 months. Lost 15 pounds, cold hands and feet, anxiety and nervousness, had stomach pain. I called my doctor to get me off this medication. It's been 3 weeks and still suffering from anxiety and nervousness and want to know when it will end."

• Bil...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 17, 2023

For High Blood Pressure "I've been taking carvedilol for 2 months. Lost 15 pounds, cold hands and feet, anxiety and nervousness, had stomach pain. I called my doctor to get me off this medication. It's been 3 weeks and still suffering from anxiety and nervousness and want to know when it will end."

• Mis...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 6, 2022

For High Blood Pressure "Just do yourself a favor and don't even bother with this medication! I am a 32-year-old female who has been sick for 5 months now with unexplained high blood pressure and fast sinus tachycardia. I've never had problems like this ever before, so doctors are blaming Covid, but don't actually know what the cause is. I was on propranolol since being in and out of the hospital with a high heart rate and blood pressure, and after being on it at 20 mg three times a day, my blood pressure and heart rate were finally normal, but it started causing me severe mental side effects. I had brain fog and confusion all the time, vivid dreams and nightmares, severe anxiety, paranoia, and panic attacks, so after begging my doctor to please switch me to something else, she gave me this medication, carvedilol, 6.25 mg twice a day. I took it, and I felt like I was dying and my heart was going to explode out of my chest. I couldn't walk, my heart was racing and pounding. I had severe body pain, confusion, drowsiness, and an ER visit."

• get...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 9, 2025

For High Blood Pressure "I have had mediocre high blood pressure since fifteen. 150/90 on average, and I also have PTSD. So I had been taking Lexapro (which is fantastic) and a low dose benzo two times a day. I decided to try some BP meds, and a diuretic was first. Hated it. Metoprolol XL was the second try, and it made me so tired and then added anxiety. I was put on Coreg 12.5 x 2 times a day for 25 mg. It lowered my BP 10-15 points. I am a smoker, 5 ft 8, and 203 lbs... built sturdy. Not only did I not have side effects, it changed my life. It may be the mix of what I take daily? But holy cow... I feel fantastic! Like I knocked 10 years off my life. No more heart racing, no more stress in my chest. I read bad reviews and delayed taking it. I REGRET THAT. This is a fantastic medicine. Don't be scared!"

• 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."