carvedilol, an alpha-/beta-adrenergic blocker. ▪ INDICATIONS: It is used to treat congestive heart failure and essential hypertension, either alone or in combination with other antihypertensives. ▪ CONTRAINDICATIONS: Known hypersensitivity to this drug, bronchial asthma, class IV decompensated cardiac failure, second- or third-degree heart block, cardiogenic shock, or severe bradycardia and pulmonary edema prohibits the use of carvedilol. ▪ ADVERSE EFFECTS: Life-threatening effects of this drug include atrioventricular block, bradycardia, congestive heart failure, pulmonary edema, and thrombocytopenia. Other serious adverse effects include somnolence, depression, ataxia, diarrhea, dependent edema, peripheral edema, extrasystoles, hypertension, hypotension, palpitations, peripheral ischemia, urinary tract infection, viral infection, and hypertriglyceridemia.
