Carvedilol and Shortness Of Breath: What Users Say

• Sau...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 16, 2014

For High Blood Pressure "I was put on Coreg 25 mg twice daily after a heart stent. Day by day, I felt worse. I was very short of breath, and my abdomen started bloating, and I felt a lot of pressure in my abdomen, especially about 4 hours after taking the Coreg. I called the cardiologist, told them my concerns, and said I thought it was my meds. They said no, that it was not the meds, and to call my PCP. The symptoms got so severe that I ended up in the ER, and after a CT scan and blood work, I was told it was the Coreg making me feel this way. Just a horrible med for me. Doctors need to listen to their patients."

• bre...
• September 9, 2018

For High Blood Pressure "Dr. put me on this med, Carvedilol 2 years ago after an aneurysm surgery, beginning with 12.5 mg, gradually increasing it to 25 mg. Two times each day along with this, also taking 50 mg Losartan each day. (Total of 100 mg of blood pressure medicine) I had always been active and physically fit before this and started going downhill fast! After months of headaches, being dizzy, numbness/tingling in hands and feet, dark urine, bruising on arms, blurred vision, and most importantly, shortness of breath and a cough! I cut each med in half and still didn't get better. I saw on the computer, side effects for Carvedilol described what I had been experiencing. I saw my Dr. and told him I refused to take any more of these meds and he could either put me back on 25 mg Atenolol (which I had been on for 16 years with no ill effects) or I wouldn't take anything. Today is day #5 on the Atenolol. I feel already I'm getting my life back. More energy, no dizziness, and best of all, I can breathe normally."

• Cap...
• March 26, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "Carvedilol is a bad drug! I can't breathe when on it. I've had three doctors tell me no, it's not causing your shortness of breath. Guess what? When I stopped it, I was able to breathe again... each time."

• 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!"

• Jel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 1, 2019

For Heart Failure "I was taking metoprolol for a couple of years for heart failure and high blood pressure with absolutely no problems. Then my cardiologist left the clinic and the new guy switched me to Carvedilol 25 mg twice a day. Immediately, I suffered shortness of breath, profound weakness, and dizziness to the point where I almost passed out a few times. I demanded to be taken off it and put back on the metoprolol. This was just my experience with Carvedilol and yours may be different. But doctors who think nothing of playing with a patient’s medications for no good reason make me sick."

• Vas...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 3, 2023

For High Blood Pressure "Have used carvedilol for several years for high blood pressure. The original manufacturer's medication worked well. The pharmacy is now unable to get it from the same manufacturer due to backorders, so I was given a 3-month supply by a different manufacturer. Felt unwell for 3 months taking carvedilol from the last manufacturer. Changed to a third manufacturer and noticed I do not have the side effects I did with the second manufacturer. My symptoms with the second manufacturer script were problems with exacerbated neuropathy, some walking difficulties, leg cramps, breathing issues, and exacerbated upper right abdominal quadrant pain. I have been on the third manufacturer's script for a week now and already feel better. Since nothing else changed, it may be the reason why I feel better than I have for 3 months."

• Fir...
• July 6, 2017

For Atrial Fibrillation "I have been taking this medication for 2 months, and I feel horrible. I have every side effect listed besides impotence. I am going to stop taking this medication with or without the doctor's blessing. I am tired of having shortness of breath and being extremely tired ALL THE TIME. I have a small child, and I can't keep up. I cannot walk to my car from my office, about 200 yards away. I am not doing this to myself anymore."

• Anonymous
• September 6, 2009

Coreg (carvedilol) for Heart Failure "Coreg worked fine for me at 12.5 mg twice a day. However, as a former smoker, when my physician increased the dosage to 25 mg 2x a day, I had trouble breathing, walking, and my feet swelled up. Coreg should be kept at a minimal dose if the patient has an underlying lung problem. My physician had to stop the drug completely."

• Sha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 6, 2019

For Heart Failure "I have been diagnosed with CHF in April 2019. Nobody knows the reason since I don’t have a history. I never drink alcohol, never smoke, never use drugs. I have very low BP, around 100. I am 43 years old. I was very active, running 2 miles in 18 minutes daily. In April, my heart EF was 15%. The doctor put me on carvedilol 3.125 mg twice a day for one month, then doubled the dose. I suffered a lot from dizziness and shortness of breath, I almost passed out. The doctor said that’s all for my benefit. I continued my workout, I improved a lot. I am now able to do 2 miles in 25 minutes. In July 2019, I had an ECHO to evaluate the progress, then the doctor was disappointed that my heart still had 15% EF. But I feel good..."

• Dee...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 16, 2018

For Heart Failure "Coreg was slowly killing me, and I didn't know it. I kept passing out, broke my nose, broke my back, along with other injuries from just dropping. My last horrible experience was ischemic colitis from very low blood pressure. I was in the hospital for six days, and cardiology realized my very low dose of this was dropping my BP dangerously low, along with my EF dropping 15%. They switched the Coreg to metoprolol. I am no longer coughing uncontrollably, wheezing, coughing up a lot of white mucus! This was all due to Coreg! Never again!"

• GIL...
• September 28, 2015

For High Blood Pressure "I was put on Coreg for unexplained rapid heart rate. My blood pressure was mostly controlled with lisinopril. I have been on it for about two years, and now I am having side effects like shortness of breath and low systolic blood pressure 100/72 with 60-70 bpm. I don't know whether or not I can get off of it due to my rapid heart rate."

• Yah...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 12, 2018

For High Blood Pressure "I have been using atenolol and amlodipine for 6 months now, and it works for me, but because of the side effects, my doctor changed it to carvedilol 12.5 mg once daily. It worked also. My boyfriend still reads 110/75 at times 122/82, but I'm still having the side effects of pains, shortness of breath, numbness, little chest fluttering, tiredness, and my internal body will be shaking."

• dad...
• April 6, 2009

Coreg CR (carvedilol) for High Blood Pressure "Switched from Atenolol after many years due to usual beta blocker problems (tiredness, etc.) and blood pressure wouldn't stay down long, tightness in chest, and breathlessness. After 3 months on Coreg CR, tightness in chest much better, breathlessness no change, blood pressure stays down all day, but is 147/91 at night and in the morning. It is 113/57 two hours after medication, but I am also taking Isosorbide ER at the same time, which also lowers blood pressure as a side effect. Coreg CR is much more expensive, but I would rather take this anytime compared to Atenolol. Also beware of mixing these with Nasonex (no matter what they say) and any cold decongestants with phenylephrine. They will increase blood pressure."

• 9 L...
• August 18, 2019

For Heart Failure "Two weeks into taking Coreg CR 10 mg, I noticed blurring vision, felt like I was walking with a lean to the right side, and dizzy, kind of like after four beers chugged in ten minutes, and would break out in cold sweats with chest tightness. I quit for one day and called a nurse, telling her the above. She agreed no more CR at 10 mg, so I switched to the 3.125 mg morning and evening dosage. Wow, what a difference in how you feel and act. The reason I am on this drug is I had my lungs fill up with fluid, and they have no idea the reason as to why, as I was in bed and merely rolled over, oxygen level tumbled down into the 60s, and I had very bad wheezing and felt as if I were drowning, and I know that sensation all too well. But without any form of insurance, I could not have all the tests most people get, but I did have a nuclear stress test which showed no blockages, and the echo showed an EF of 34%, so the diagnosis was CHF."

• 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."

• Bar...
• January 30, 2009

Coreg CR (carvedilol) for High Blood Pressure "Switched from atenolol to Coreg CR to avoid the wall I would hit when doing cardio exercise. I felt less of the wall from the cardiac side, but seemed to not breathe as easily while doing cardio and while at rest. Felt like I had to force myself to take deep breaths on Coreg CR. Never had that happen with atenolol. Also, lost some libido on Coreg CR, which wasn't an issue with atenolol. Switched back to atenolol, and these issues all went away."

• Tod...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 10, 2023

Coreg (carvedilol) "I had an 80% heart block and had a stent put in. I was placed on 6.25 mg of Coreg a day. I felt great the day after the stent. Once home, I continued medication as told. Each day I felt worse than the day before. By day seven, I had no energy, my hands were numb and blotchy, I had chest and shoulder pain, shortness of breath, and depression. I called the doctor, and he said I could stop it. The next day, I felt three times better. I hope it continues to improve."

• ENV...
• January 25, 2009

For High Blood Pressure "For the past 18 months, I have experienced labile hypertension of unknown cause, evidently unrelated to any underlying condition or risk factor. Coreg CR, which I have been taking for approximately two months, has provided great benefit in stabilizing my surges (from 100/50 to 200/100 in less than two hours). It is a beta blocker and provides some vasodilation. Side effects to date include some shortness of breath, which reduces over time, and some dizziness and drowsiness/hypotension approximately 6 hours after administration. Taking 40 mg extended release form along with a calcium channel blocker, clonidine patch, and diuretics."

• Tee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 9, 2017

For Atrial Fibrillation "Started on 6.25 twice a day after heart attack. Developed bronchospasms and asthma in 3 days. Then had a severe blood sugar low of 35. No warnings were given to me because I am type 2 diabetic and this is a side effect!! Reduced dosage to 1.25 twice a day..."

• 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."

• thi...
• March 13, 2012

For High Blood Pressure "Headaches, dizziness, and nausea so bad I want to stay in bed but can't because I also have trouble breathing after I take it."