Indication and Important Safety Information

COREG CR is approved for the treatment of hypertension, which is also known as high blood pressure.
COREG CR is approved to reduce the risk of death in patients who had a heart attack that reduced how well the heart pumps.
COREG CR is approved to increase survival in patients with mild to severe heart failure.

It is important for patients to take their medicine every day as directed by their doctor or health care provider. If patients stop taking COREG CR suddenly, they could have chest pain and/or a heart attack. If the doctor decides that a patient should stop taking COREG CR, the doctor may slowly lower the dose over a period of time before stopping it completely.

Some common side effects associated with COREG CR include shortness of breath, a slow heartbeat, weight gain, fatigue, hypotension, diarrhea, increases in blood sugar, dizziness, faintness, or runny nose/sore throat. People taking COREG CR who have any of these symptoms should call their doctor. Additionally, if patients experience fatigue or dizziness, they should sit or lie down and avoid driving or hazardous tasks. Beta-blockers may mask the symptoms of an overactive thyroid or low blood sugar, or may alter blood sugar levels. People with diabetes should report any changes in blood sugar levels to their physician. Contact lens wearers may produce fewer tears or have dry eyes. As with any medicine, patients taking COREG CR should first tell their doctor what other medications they are taking. COREG CR should be taken with food.

Some people should not take COREG CR, including those with severe heart failure who are in the intensive care unit (ICU) in the hospital. Also, people should not take COREG CR if they take certain intravenous drugs that help support their circulation (inotropic medications). Other people who should not take COREG CR are those who have (1) asthma or other breathing problems, or (2) a very slow heartbeat or certain conditions that can cause the heart to skip a beat (irregular heartbeat), (3) severe liver problems, or (4) serious allergic reactions to Coreg^® (carvedilol).