Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: CARTROL versus COREG.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: CARTROL versus COREG.
CARTROL vs COREG
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
CARTROL is a beta-1 selective adrenergic receptor antagonist. It inhibits the effects of catecholamines on beta-1 receptors in the heart, reducing heart rate, myocardial contractility, and blood pressure.
Carvedilol is a nonselective beta-blocker with alpha1-blocking activity. It competitively blocks beta1, beta2, and alpha1 adrenergic receptors, leading to decreased cardiac output, reduced sympathetic tone, and vasodilation. It also has antioxidant and anti-proliferative properties.
Adults: 2.5 mg orally twice daily, titrated up to maximum 10 mg twice daily.
Heart failure: Start 3.125 mg orally twice daily; titrate up to target 25 mg twice daily as tolerated. Hypertension: Start 6.25 mg orally twice daily; increase to max 50 mg twice daily. Post-MI LV dysfunction: Start 3.125-6.25 mg orally twice daily; titrate to target 25 mg twice daily.
None Documented
None Documented
Terminal elimination half-life is 6–8 hours in normal renal function; prolonged to 20–40 hours in severe renal impairment (CrCl <30 mL/min).
Terminal elimination half-life is 7-10 hours in most patients, but may be prolonged in severe hepatic impairment (up to 14-18 hours). The half-life is not significantly altered in renal impairment.
Primarily renal excretion (approx. 70% unchanged drug), with 20% biliary/fecal, and 10% metabolism to inactive metabolites.
Renal excretion of unchanged drug and metabolites accounts for approximately 16% of the dose; fecal excretion accounts for about 84% (mainly as metabolites). Less than 2% is excreted unchanged in urine.
Category C
Category C
Beta-Blocker
Beta-Blocker