Pharmacokinetic Properties of a New Controlled-Release Formulation of Carvedilol

This review summarizes the pharmacokinetics (PK) of carvedilol after administration of a new once-daily controlled-release (CR) formulation. The plasma concentration-time profiles for both R(+)- and S(−)-carvedilol indicate that carvedilol CR will provide coverage over a 24-hour period similar to the current immediate-release (IR) twice-daily formulation. Exposures for both enantiomers, based on area under the curve (AUC), maximum plasma concentrations (Cmax), and trough concentrations, are equivalent for carvedilol CR compared with carvedilol IR. Cmax and AUC of the enantiomers of carvedilol increase in an approximate dose-proportional manner after administration of carvedilol CR over the dose range of 10–80 mg, indicating that the formulation provides consistent PK performance across the dose strengths proposed for marketing. The intrasubject and intersubject variability of carvedilol CR was comparable to carvedilol IR. For carvedilol CR, mean AUC and Cmax were increased <20% after a high-fat meal compared with a standard meal. The CR and IR formulations of carvedilol exhibited equivalent steady-state PK characteristics in the target hypertension and heart failure populations. The availability of once-daily dosing is expected to improve treatment adherence and thereby enhance the effectiveness of carvedilol in routine clinical use.