Foods to Avoid When Taking Carvedilol

Nutrition and medication have been linked together for a long time. We know how some medicines are affected by the food we eat meanwhile some medicines interact with the food we eat. So, it is a vicious cycle. The same is the case with Carvedilol. Wanna know what foods you should avoid when you are taking carvedilol?

What Is Carvedilol Used For?

Carvedilol is a medicine in the beta-blocker category that is used to treat high blood pressure and other heart problems like heart attack, stroke, and heart failure. 

Now, it is important to understand how carvedilol works.

What Does Carvedilol Do To Your Body?

As Carvedilol is a beta blocker, it slows down the heart rate by blocking the function of epinephrine that stimulates the heart rate, making it easy for the heart to pump blood throughout the body. When the heart rate is slowed, the blood is more efficiently pumped which lowers the blood pressure. Carvedilol blocks the beta-receptors and also helps in widening the blood vessels which helps to lower blood pressure.

Foods To Avoid When Taking Carvedilol

Carvedilol does not react negatively towards any particular food, but it is still important to avoid certain foods when taking this medicine as they might interfere with its absorption or worsen your heart health. You should:

1. Avoid foods high in sodium, calcium, potassium, and saturated fats as they might negate the effects of carvedilol in reducing blood pressure.

2. Avoid juices of grapefruit, apple, and orange as they slow down the absorption of the medicine. Grapefruit juice increases the levels of carvedilol in the body as it interferes with the metabolization of medicine by inhibiting the cytochrome P450 system in your body

3. You should avoid caffeinated foods like coffee and tea that slows down the metabolism. A combination of both raises blood pressure.

4. Avoid taking beverages like energy drinks, some sodas, and energy bars as they also interact with the Carvedilol, slowing down its metabolization in the body.

5. It is important to avoid or limit alcohol consumption when taking carvedilol because it reduces the effectiveness of the medicine, and increases the risk of a condition Cerebrovascular accident (CVA). Alcohol and carvedilol when combined, cause nausea, heartburn, vomiting, stomach pain, headache, dizziness, or sleep problems.

6. Avoid Supplements and multivitamins with potassium in it.

Foods To Include When Taking Carvedilol

It is important to consume a diet that is heart-healthy if you have any heart-related problems and are taking carvedilol. A DASH diet is also a suitable diet to eat with hypertension. This diet is low in sodium, added sugar, and saturated fats while high in healthy vitamins, minerals, and other beneficial nutrients.

Some healthy foods that you can eat when taking carvedilol are:

1- Fruits and Vegetables

2- Whole grains

3- Lean meat and poultry

4- Fish

5- Nuts

6- Seeds

(Fish, especially Salmon, is rich in a healthy fat called omega-3 fatty acids. These healthy fats are good for your heart and fight inflammation against heart problems)

Side Effects Of Carvedilol

The commonest side effects are:

• Dizziness
• Headache
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Sleep problems
• Weight gain

Conclusion

Carvedilol is a medicine that treats high blood pressure and other heart-related conditions like heart attack, heart failure, or stroke. When you are taking carvedilol, try to avoid foods high in sodium, calcium, potassium, and saturated fats, some juices like grapefruit, apple, or orange, caffeinated food items and beverages such as coffee, tea, sodas, or energy drinks, supplements/multivitamins with potassium in them and try to avoid or limit alcohol while taking carvedilol.