Bystolic vs Coreg (Carvedilol)

Bystolic vs Coreg (Carvedilol) – detailed comparison:

Bystolic

It is the brand name of a generic medication called nebivolol, which belongs to a group of medications called beta-blockers.

This medication works by affecting the response to nerve impulses in some parts of the body. As a result, the heart beats slower, which ultimately leads to lower blood pressure.

It is manufactured by Mylan Bertek Pharmaceuticals and was originally approved by the US FDA in 2007.

Uses

The medication is used to treat hypertension. Lowering the blood pressure will help you to reduce the chance of having a heart attack or stroke.

Dosage

The usual recommended dose is 5 mg which is taken once per day. If a higher dose is required, your doctor may increase the dose up to a maximum of 20 mg taken once per day. The maximum recommended dose is 40 mg per day.

Side Effects And Precautions 

Common side effects may include:

  • sleep problems;
  • dizziness;
  • shortness of breath;
  • headaches;
  • fluid retention in the legs;
  • slow heartbeat;
  • a cold feeling in the hands and feet;
  • tiredness;
  • stomach pain;
  • fatigue;
  • diarrhea;
  • rash;
  • nausea.

Less common side effects may include:

  • sudden weight gain;
  • wheezing;
  • tightness in the chest;
  • chest discomfort;
  • feeling dizzy.

Alcohol

You should not consume alcohol while taking this beta-blocker since drinking alcoholic beverages can increase the risk of serious side effects.

Drug Interaction

It may negatively interact with other medications, including:

  • Propafenone;
  • calcium channel blockers, like – Diltiazem (Cardizem, Tiazac) or verapamil (Verelan, Calan, Covera-HS);
  • Quinidine;
  • Breo Ellipta;
  • medications for irregular heartbeat or arrhythmia, such as – disopyramide (Norpace);
  • some medications for depression, like – selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs);
  • Boniva;
  • other drugs used to treat heart problems, high blood pressure, or anxiety.

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

There are no human clinical studies to determine whether this beta-blocker crosses into human breast milk and negatively affects the infant, but it has been found in the milk of rats during animal studies.

Additionally, if it’s taken during pregnancy, this beta-blocker may cause harm to an unborn baby. Hence, tell your healthcare professional if you are pregnant or plan to fall pregnant before taking this drug.

To make sure you can safely take this medication, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:

  • sick sinus syndrome;
  • heart failure;
  • kidney or liver disease;
  • slow heart rate;
  • type 2 diabetes mellitus;
  • severe liver disease;
  • pheochromocytoma (tumor of the adrenal gland);
  • emphysema, asthma, bronchitis;
  • a thyroid disorder;
  • a history of allergies;
  • Raynaud’s syndrome;
  • if you have recently had a heart attack.

Coreg

It is the brand name of a medication called carvedilol, which belongs to a group of medications called beta-blockers. It decreases the heart rate, blood pressure, and workload of the heart by blocking beta receptors.

This medication was originally approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 1995.

Uses

This prescription medication is used to treat high blood pressure and heart failure.

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Dosage

For heart function problems following a heart attack, the usual recommended adult dose is 6.25 mg taken twice a day. The dosage can be increased after 3 to 10 days to 12.5 mg taken twice a day.

Side Effects and Precautions

Common side effects may include:

  • diarrhea;
  • dizziness;
  • weight gain;
  • tired feeling;
  • dry eyes;
  • weakness.

Rare side effects may include:

  • slow or uneven heartbeats;
  • a light-headed feeling like you might pass out;
  • cold feeling in your fingers or toes;
  • rapid weight gain;
  • trouble breathing;
  • feeling short of breath (even with mild exertion);
  • increased urination;
  • chest tightness;
  • blurred vision;
  • dry skin.

To make sure that this beta-adrenergic blocking agent is safe for you, tell your healthcare provider if you have:

  • type 2 diabetes mellitus;
  • kidney disease;
  • angina (chest pain);
  • a thyroid disorder;
  • liver disease;
  • a history of allergies;
  • circulation problems (such as Raynaud’s syndrome);
  • pheochromocytoma (tumor of the adrenal gland).

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

It is not known precisely if this beta-adrenergic blocking agent crosses into human milk. Therefore, tell your healthcare provider if you are breastfeeding a baby, and he will decide if the benefits outweigh the risk of using the medication.

This medication falls into category C. This means that in animal studies, pregnant animals were given this beta-adrenergic blocking agent and had some babies born with problems. However, there are no clinical human studies to determine the safety of the medication in pregnant women.

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Drug Interactions

This beta-adrenergic blocking agent may negatively interact with other medications, especially:

  • amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone);
  • beta-blockers, like – bisoprolol (Zebeta), metoprolol (Toprol XL, Lopressor), betaxolol (Kerlone), propranolol (Inderal);
  • insulin and oral hypoglycemics;
  • digoxin (Lanoxin);
  • medications, like – isocarboxazid (Marplan), reserpine (Serpalan), tranylcypromine (Parnate), phenelzine (Nardil), clonidine (Catapres), or rasagiline (Azilect);
  • diltiazem (Cardizem);
  • verapamil (Calan, Verelan).

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Bottom Line – Bystolic vs Coreg

Bystolic (active ingredient – nebivolol) is a medication that is used to treat hypertension. It works by slowing down the heart and decreasing the amount of blood it pumps out.

Coreg (active ingredient – carvedilol) is used to treat heart failure and hypertension. Plus, it is used after a heart attack which has caused the heart not to pump at a normal level. This medication is part of a group of medications called beta-blockers.

According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, all beta blockers have a similar effect on treating high blood pressure, either when used alone or in combination with a diuretic and ACE inhibitor.

Also, in studies, Bystolic has not demonstrated superiority to other beta-blockers for lowering blood pressure, however, it may be associated with fewer side effects.

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References

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4541699/
http://www.empr.com/bystolic/drug/75/
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jch.12169/full

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