Manufacturer: Cipla, India
Pharmaceutical name: Carvedilol
Pack: 10 pills (6.25 mg)
Carloc contains Carvedilol, a non-selective beta-blocker and alpha-blocker that is prescribed for treating high blood pressure (hypertension), stable heart failure, and angina.
Carloc is indicated for various cardiovascular conditions. This includes managing hypertension by decreasing blood pressure to minimize the risk of complications such as strokes and heart attacks; treating stable angina (chest pain) in heart disease patients with insufficient oxygen supply to the heart; and addressing chronic but stable heart failure alongside other medications to enhance the efficiency of weakened heart muscles. Carloc operates through a shared mechanism across different body systems to manage conditions and alleviate symptoms by decreasing heart rate (pulse), reducing the heart's workload (the effort required to pump), and lowering oxygen demand, which improves blood flow and decreases blood pressure.
Carloc contains carvedilol, a non-selective beta-blocker that acts as an antagonist to both beta1 and beta2 receptors, and also exhibits some antagonistic effects on alpha receptors. The carvedilol in Carloc functions by inhibiting the effects of catecholamines, like adrenaline and noradrenaline (epinephrine and norepinephrine), released by the adrenal glands in response to nerve activation during both physical and mental stress. Adrenaline increases heart rate and constricts blood vessels by activating beta-receptors in the heart. The carvedilol in Carloc counteracts this by blocking beta-receptors, which slows down the heart rate and reduces the force required for blood circulation, resulting in less oxygen demand from the heart. This mechanism alleviates angina pain caused by an increased workload and insufficient oxygen delivery to the heart during exertion.
Additionally, the carvedilol in Carloc also blocks alpha-receptors located in the walls of peripheral blood vessels, causing them to relax and dilate (vasodilation), which subsequently decreases resistance to blood flow. The synergistic effects of alpha and beta blockade in Carloc lessen the heart's effort to pump blood while enhancing blood flow and oxygen delivery to the heart, alongside diminishing resistance in peripheral blood vessels through vasodilation, aiding in lowering blood pressure. This also contributes to more efficient heart pumping, thereby reducing breathlessness during exertion due to weakened heart muscles associated with congestive heart failure.
You should take Carloc with a glass of water, once or twice daily, either with or without food, unless you are on treatment for heart failure, in which case you should take your tablets with food. The dosage and frequency depend on your specific treatment needs, and your doctor may gradually modify your dose until the optimal amount for your condition is achieved. It’s important to continue taking Carloc for the duration recommended by your doctor, which may extend for several weeks or more. If you are instructed to stop taking it, do so gradually and avoid abrupt discontinuation of treatment.
Reported side effects associated with Carloc include dizziness, headache, fatigue (asthenia), hypotension (low blood pressure), bradycardia (slow heart rate), weight gain, hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol), edema (fluid retention resulting in swollen ankles), nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, visual disturbances, respiratory issues, and peripheral pain.
Several medications can interact with Carloc and should either be avoided or discussed with your healthcare provider before use: Serious interactions include monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) for depression, antiarrhythmics such as amiodarone; medications affecting Carloc include other antihypertensive agents, angina treatments, or irregular heartbeats such as calcium channel blockers (diltiazem, verapamil, and nifedipine), clonidine for hypertension, rifampicin (an antibiotic), and cimetidine for reflux and ulcers.
Medications affected by Carloc include immunosuppressants like cyclosporine, insulin or metformin for diabetes, and digoxin for heart failure.
Store Carloc below 25°C in a cool, dry environment, away from moisture and light.