Carvedilol-d₅is intended for use as an internal standard for the quantification of carvedilol by GC- or LC-MS. Carvedilol is a non-selective antagonist of the β-adrenergic receptor (β-AR; K_ds = 1.78, 0.4, and 5.01 nM for β₁-, β₂-, and β₃-ARs, respectively).¹It also binds to α₁-, but not α₂-, adrenergic receptors (K_is = 0.81 and 3,400 nM, respectively).²Carvedilol reverses increases in heart rate induced by the β₁-AR agonist isoproterenol in isolated guinea pig atria (K_b= 0.8 nM) and induces relaxation of isolated precontracted guinea pig trachea (K_b= 1.3 nM).³It prevents epinephrine-induced premature ventricular beats in a rat model of arrhythmia with an ED₅₀value of 0.25 mg/kg.²Carvedilol also inhibits the contractile response to the α₁-AR agonist norepinephrine in isolated rabbit aorta (K_b= 11 nM).³It decreases systolic blood pressure and heart rate in rat models of hypertension, including spontaneously hypertensive, renal hypertensive, and deoxycorticosterone acetate-treated rats when administered at doses ranging from 3 to 30 mg/kg.⁴Carvedilol also activates cardioprotective signaling through β-arrestin and ERK1/2 activation.^5,6,7Formulations containing carvedilol have been used in the treatment of congestive heart failure and hypertension.

1.Baker, J.G.The selectivity of β-adrenoceptor antagonists at the human β1, β2 and β3 adrenoceptorsBr. J. Pharmacol.144(3)317-322(2005) 2.Groszek, G., Nowak-KrÓl, A., Wdowik, T., et al.Synthesis and adrenolytic activity of 1-(1H-indol-4-yloxy)-3-(2-(2-methoxy phenoxy)ethylamino)propan-2-ol analogs and its enantiomers. Part 2Eur. J. Med. Chem.44(12)5103-5111(2009) 3.Nichols, A.J., Sulpizio, A.C., Ashton, D.J., et al.In vitro pharmacologic profile of the novel beta-adrenoceptor antagonist and vasodilator, carvedilolPharmacology39(5)327-336(1989) 4.Tanaka, M., Masumura, H., Tanaka, S., et al.Studies on the antihypertensive properties of carvedilol, a compound with beta-blocking and vasodilating effectsJ. Cardiovasc. Pharmacol.10(Suppl 11)S52-S57(1987) 5.Wisler, J.W., DeWire, S.M., Whalen, E.J., et al.A unique mechanism of β-blocker action: Carvedilol stimulates β-arrestin signalingProc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.104(42)16657-16662(2007) 6.Kim, I.M., Tilley, D.G., Chen, J., et al.β-blockers alprenolol and carvedilol stimulate β-arrestin-mediated EGFR transactivationProc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.105(38)14555-14560(2008) 7.Ibrahim, I.A.A.E.H., and Kurose, H.β-Arrestin-mediated signaling improves the efficacy of therapeuticsJ. Pharmacol. Sci.118(4)408-412(2012)