Back to Journals » Vascular Health and Risk Management » Volume 4 » Issue 6
Controlled-release carvedilol in the management of systemic hypertension and myocardial dysfunction
Authors Frishman WH, Henderson LS, Lukas MA
Published 5 December 2008 Volume 2008:4(6) Pages 1387—1400
DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/VHRM.S3148
Review by Single anonymous peer review
Peer reviewer comments 5
William H Frishman1, Linda S Henderson2, Mary Ann Lukas2
1Departments of Medicine and Pharmacology, New York Medical College/Westchester Medical Center, Valhalla, NY, USA; 2Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine Development Center, GlaxoSmithKline, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Abstract: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. Within the treatment armamentarium, beta-blockers have demonstrated efficacy across the spectrum of cardiovascular disease – from modification of a risk factor (ie, hypertension) to treatment after an acute event (ie, myocardial infarction). Recently, the use of beta-blockers as a first-line therapy in hypertension has been called into question. Moreover, beta-blockers as a class are saddled with a misperception of having poor tolerability. However, vasodilatory beta-blockers such as carvedilol have a different hemodynamic action that provides the benefits of beta-blockade with the addition of vasodilation resulting from alpha 1-adrenergic receptor blockade. Vasodilation reduces total peripheral resistance, which may produce an overall positive effect on tolerability. Recently, a new, controlled-release carvedilol formulation has been developed that provides the clinical efficacy of carvedilol but is indicated for once-daily dosing. This review presents an overview of the clinical and pharmacologic carvedilol controlled-release data.
Keywords: beta-blockers, cardiovascular disease, heart failure, myocardial infarction, vasodilatory
© 2008 The Author(s). This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited. The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution - Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License. By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms.