I. Coreg Fact File
Coreg was introduced by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Pharmaceuticals.
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is a world leading research-based pharmaceutical company. Glaxo is headquartered in the UK and with operations based in the US; the new company is one of the industry leaders, with an estimated seven per cent of the world's pharmaceutical market.
GSK also has leadership in four major therapeutic areas - anti-infectives, central nervous system (CNS), respiratory and gastro-intestinal/metabolic. In addition, it is a leader in the important area of vaccines and has a growing portfolio of oncology products.
Glaxo also has a Consumer Healthcare portfolio comprising over-the-counter (OTC) medicines; oral care products and nutritional healthcare drinks, all of which are among the market leaders.
II. Coreg Medication
Coreg medication is used to treat congestive heart failure, including severe heart failure, for people who are already taking a diuretic (water pill) and an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor.
Coreg medication (carvedilol) is used in combination with other medications to treat heart failure. Coreg also is used alone or in combination with other medications to treat high blood pressure.
Coreg medication (carvedilol) is a combination of two classes of drugs called beta-blockers and alpha-blockers. It works by relaxing the blood vessels so your heart does not have to pump as hard.
Congestive heart failure occurs when the heart is not able to pump efficiently enough to supply adequate amounts of oxygen-rich blood to different areas of the body. Generic Coreg medication (carvedilol) helps this situation by relaxing blood vessels, reducing the need for oxygen in the body, and by helping the heart to beat more regularly and efficiently.
Congestive heart failure (CHF) or Dropsy, or Pulmonary Edema
: Information
Diagram 1: Congestive Heart Failure
[Explanation for Diagram : The heart has two sides: right and left. The right side of the heart pumps blood though the lungs. The left side of the heart then takes this freshly oxygenated blood, and pumps it to the other parts of the body, including the vital organs. When the left side of the heart is damaged or not working properly, it is unable to pump all the blood it receives. This will cause the fluid in the blood to back up into the lungs. It may also back up further and cause excess fluid in the liver, abdomen, and legs. This backup of fluid is called congestive Heart Failure. The name comes from the fact that Heart Failure causes fluid to fill up (congest) the lungs.]
Congestive heart failure (CHF), or heart failure, is a condition in which the heart can't pump enough blood to the body's other organs. This can result from
- narrowed arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle — coronary artery disease.
- past heart attack, or myocardial infarction, with scar tissue that interferes with the heart muscle's normal work.
- high blood pressure.
- heart valve disease due to past rheumatic fever or other causes.
- primary disease of the heart muscle itself, called cardiomyopathy.
- heart defects present at birth — congenital heart defects.
- infection of the heart valves and/or heart muscle itself — endocarditis and/or myocarditis.
The "failing" heart keeps working but not as efficiently as it should. People with heart failure can't exert themselves because they become short of breath and tired.
As blood flow out of the heart slows, blood returning to the heart through the veins backs up, causing congestion in the tissues. Often swelling (edema) results. Most often there's swelling in the legs and ankles, but it can happen in other parts of the body, too. Sometimes fluid collects in the lungs and interferes with breathing, causing shortness of breath, especially when a person is lying down.
Heart failure also affects the kidneys' ability to dispose of sodium and water. The retained water increases the edema.
Signs and Symptoms of Heart Failure
- Shortness of breath (also called dyspnea)
- Persistent coughing or wheezing
- Buildup of excess fluid in body tissues (edema)
- Tiredness, fatigue
- Lack of appetite, nausea
- Confusion, impaired thinking
- Increased heart rate
Causes of Heart Failure
If you have heart failure, chances are you have (or had) one or more of the following. Some of these can be present without you knowing it.
- Coronary artery disease
When cholesterol and fatty deposits build up in the heart's arteries, less blood reaches the heart muscle. This damages the muscle, and the healthy heart tissue that remains has to work harder.
- Past heart attacks (myocardial infarction)
A heart attack occurs when an artery that supplies blood to the heart gets blocked. The loss of oxygen and nutrients damages the heart's muscle tissue — part of it essentially "dies." The remaining healthy tissue has to pump even harder to keep up.
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
Uncontrolled high blood pressure increases a person's risk of developing heart failure by two to three times. When pressure in the blood vessels is too high, the heart has to pump harder than normal to keep the blood circulating. This takes a toll on the heart, and over time the chambers get larger and weaker.
- Abnormal heart valves
Heart valve problems can result from disease, infection (endocarditis) or a defect present at birth. When the valves don't open or close completely during each heartbeat, the heart muscle has to pump harder to keep the blood moving. If the workload becomes too great, heart failure results.
- Heart muscle disease (cardiomyopathy) or inflammation (myocarditis)
Any damage to the heart muscle — whether because of drug or alcohol use, viral infections or unknown reasons — increases the risk of heart failure.
- Heart defects present at birth (congenital heart disease)
If the heart and its chambers don't form correctly, the healthy parts have to work harder to make up for it.
- Severe lung disease
When the lungs don't work properly, the heart has to work harder to get available oxygen to the rest of the body.
- Diabetes
Diabetes puts extra strain on the heart, increasing risk for heart failure. People with diabetes also tend to be overweight and have high blood pressure and high cholesterol — all of which make the heart work harder.
Typically these conditions cause the "wear and tear" that leads to heart failure. A combination of any of the above factors dramatically increases risk.
Less commonly, an otherwise healthy heart may become temporarily unable to keep up with the body's needs. This can happen in people who have:
- Low red blood cell count (severe anemia)
When there aren't enough red blood cells to carry oxygen, the heart tries to move the small number of cells at a faster heart rate. It can become overtaxed from the effort.
- An overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism)
This condition causes the body to work at a faster pace, and the heart can be overworked trying to keep up.
- Abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia or dysrhythmia)
When the heart beats too fast, too slow or irregularly, it may not be able to pump enough blood to meet all the body's needs.
In these cases, the person may experience heart failure symptoms until the underlying problem is identified and treated.
Treatment of CHF
The more common forms of heart failure — those due to damage that has accumulated over time — can't be cured. But they can be treated, quite often with improvement in symptoms.
The treatment strategies include...
- Lifestyle changes
- Medications
- Surgery
- Lifestyle changes
Following recommendations about diet, exercise and other habits can help to alleviate symptoms, slow the disease's progression and improve everyday life. In fact, people with mild to moderate heart failure often can lead nearly normal lives as a result. You or your loved one may have to change your regular routine by...
- Quitting smoking
- Losing weight
- Avoiding alcohol
- Avoiding or limiting caffeine
- Eating a low-saturated-fat, low-sodium diet
- Exercising on your own or participating in a structured rehabilitation program
- Reducing stress
- Keeping track of symptoms and reporting any changes that concern you to the doctor
- Seeing the doctor more often
Making these changes is easier said than done. Dealing with new restrictions and responsibilities is challenging, but working these changes into your routine one at a time can make a real difference.
- Medications
Most people with heart failure take a number of medications that work in different ways. Some help to improve circulation by strengthening the heart muscle's pumping action or expanding the blood vessels. Others help to reduce the amount of water and sodium in the body, which in turn reduces the heart's workload. Patients and their families need to keep track of prescribed medications and follow instructions on how much to take and when to take them.
The following drugs are used to treat Heart Failure:
a. ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitors
b. beta blockers
c. digitalis
d. diuretics
e. vasodilators
Various drugs are used to treat congestive heart failure. They perform different functions. ACE inhibitors and vasodilators expand blood vessels and decrease resistance. This allows blood to flow more easily and makes the heart's work easier or more efficient. Beta blockers can improve how well the heart's left lower chamber (left ventricle) pumps. Digitalis increases the pumping action of the heart, while diuretics help the body eliminate excess salt and water.
When a specific cause of congestive heart failure is discovered, it should be treated or, if possible, corrected. For example, for some cases, congestive heart failure can be treated by treating high blood pressure. If the heart failure is caused by an abnormal heart valve, the valve can be surgically replaced.
If the heart becomes so damaged that it can't be repaired, a more drastic approach should be considered. A heart transplant could be an option.
Most people with mild and moderate congestive heart failure can be treated. Proper medical supervision can prevent them from becoming invalids.
- Surgery
Surgery is the other treatment option for heart failure. In some cases coronary artery bypass surgery (or a non-surgical procedure known as angioplasty) can ease heart failure symptoms by increasing blood flow to the heart. If the heart has lost significant pumping capacity, and other treatments don't help, a heart transplant may be the only option. However, people usually have to wait months or even years for a suitable donor heart to be found. Other surgical alternatives now under investigation have shown real promise.
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III. Useful links
Government http://www.cdc.gov/
http://www.fda.gov/
http://www.fda.gov/cder/ogd/
http://www.nih.gov/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi
http://www.health.gov.on.ca/
National Library of Medicine
World Health Organization
Health Sites
http://www.mayoclinic.com/index.cfm
MedicineNet.com
Drugdigest.org
Healthsquare.com
GlaxoSmithKline - GSK
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/medmaster/a697042.html
www.ecureme.com/emyhealth/ data/Heart_Failure.asp
Pharmacy sites
http://www.roche.com/home/company/com_hist.htm
http://www.healthdigest.org/Bactrim-DS(Oral)_2006_PRO.php
http://www.hsforum.com/stories/storyReader$1509
http://www.hsforum.com/stories/storyReader$1516
http://www.hsforum.com/stories/storyReader$1504
http://www.people.vcu.edu/~urdesai/atc.htm#Process%20of%20clotting
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