There is evidence to indicate that full adrenergic blockade by carvedilol improves survival and cardiovascular outcome in patients with heart failure compared with metoprolol treatment ...

A number of comparative studies have been performed with metoprolol, a β 1-selective "second-generation" β blocker, and carvedilol, a nonselective and vasodilatative "third-generation" β blocker.

Two protocols for switching between carvedilol, a third-generation nonselective agent with vasodilation through α 1 blockade, and a β 1-selective agent (e.g., metoprolol, atenolol) are described ...