There have not been a sufficient number of studies to fully address this particular question. The response to this question was developed by doctors at Weill Cornell Medical College in consultation with experts in the field.
In case of an overdose, manufacturers strongly recommend immediately contacting the patient’s doctor, the emergency services, or the regional Poison Control Center.1-5 Overdose may cause hypotension, bradycardia, cardiac insufficiency, cardiogenic shock, and cardiac arrest.3,4,6 It can also lead to respiratory problems, bronchospasms, vomiting, lapses of consciousness, and generalized seizures.
There have been few cases of overdose on carvedilol immediate-release tablets (Coreg), alone or with other drugs.3,7,8 The symptoms experienced include low blood pressure and heart rate, and individuals recovered with standard supportive treatment.3 One case report details a carvedilol overdose by an 84-year-old man with severe Alzheimer’s dementia and hypertension.8 The patient overdosed on 60 tablets of 6.25mg Coreg. His systolic/diastolic blood pressure 45 minutes after ingestion was 80/40mm Hg, and his pulse was 45 beats/min. After intensive treatment, the patient recovered and was discharged from the hospital 14 hours after ingestion.
Manufacturers report no cases of overdose on carvedilol extended-release capsules (Coreg CR).1,4
References
- APO-CARVEDILOL [package insert]. Toronto, Canada: Apotex Pharmaceutical Holdings Inc.; 2015.
- AURO-CARVEDILOL [package insert]. Ontario, CA: Aurobindo Pharma Inc.; 2013.
- COREG [package insert]. Ciales, PR: GK Pharmaceuticals Contract Manufacturing Operations; 2008.
- COREG CR [package insert]. Ciales, PR: GK Pharmaceuticals Contract Manufacturing Operations; 2008.
- U.S. National Library of Medicine. Carvedilol. MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a697042.html. Accessed August 21, 2018.
- U.S. National Library of Medicine. CARVEDILOL-carvedilol tablet, coated. DailyMed. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=7d485d38-5d43-4a54-bc63-82734035c66a. Accessed August 27, 2018.
- Hantson P, Lambermont JY, Simoens G, Mahieu P. Carvedilol overdose. Acta Cardiol. 1997;52(4):369-371.
- Bouchard NC, Forde J, Hoffman RS. Carvedilol overdose with quantitative confirmation. Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol. 2008;103(1):102-103.
