Carvedilol

Carvedilol, sold under the brand name Coreg among others, is a beta blocker used in the treatment of mild to severe congestive heart failure (CHF), left ventricular dysfunction (LVD) following heart attack in people who are otherwise stable, and high blood pressure.

It is a nonselective beta blocker/alpha-1 blocker and belongs to the third generation of betablockers.

Carvedilol was discovered by Fritz Wiedemann at Boehringer Mannheim and was initially approved in the U.S. in 1995. On October 20, 2006, the FDA approved an extended-release formulation.

Medical use

Carvedilol is indicated in the management of congestive heart failure (CHF), commonly as an adjunct to angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor (ACE inhibitors) and diuretics. It has been clinically shown to reduce mortality and hospitalizations in people with CHF. The mechanism behind its positive effect when used long-term in clinically stable CHF patients is not fully understood, but is thought to contribute to remodeling of the heart, improving upon its structure and function.