Barkman A, Pooler C
Mount Royal College, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Dimens Crit Care Nurs. 2001 Sep-Oct;20(5):11-6. doi: 10.1097/00003465-200109000-00004.
Initially used primarily as an antihypertensive, the beta-blocker carvedilol is now being used to alleviate heart failure, significantly reducing hospitalizations and mortality. In this article, we discuss the pathophysiology of heart failure; carvedilol's action, long-term benefits, and administration; and potential short-term adverse effects.